(Photo Credit: Birgit Lutz)
In order to survive, an animal needs to be able to reproduce. Already, seals are struggling to reproduce simply because there isn’t enough strong ice to give birth on. As the ice disappears more and more quickly, there will be less time and space for seals to give birth. Babies that aren’t born on ice will quickly drown.
Additionally, the survival of seals depends heavily on the Arctic fish populations. These fish are increasingly struggling with warmer climates, new predators driven north by warming, and lack of food sources.
(Credit: Janelle Lugge)
(Credit: William Drumm - youtube)
One such food source is krill and plankton. Many of these tiny creatures require ice cover or kelp to develop. As these decline, the food sources and eventually fish populations will follow suit. Then, the fish populations drop will continue on to hurt the seals.
(Credits: Øystein Paulsen, Paul Nicklen, and Twitter/ @CKatlein)
Currently, antarctic krill and phytoplankton populations are experiencing similar issues too. In turn, the penguin populations there are struggling as well. For more info, feel free to read the articles below:
Life in Antarctic Relies on Shrinking Supply of Krill