Alaska's Snow Crab Population Decimated by Ocean Heat
Billions of snow crabs have disappeared from the waters around Alaska, and scientists have determined that warmer ocean temperatures caused them to starve to death. A recent study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found a significant link between marine heat waves in the eastern Bering Sea and the sudden disappearance of snow crabs. The crabs' metabolism was disrupted by warmer waters, increasing their caloric needs while disrupting the food web. Other species, like Pacific cod, took advantage of the situation and contributed to the decline in the crab population. This event highlights the rapid acceleration of the climate crisis and its impact on marine ecosystems.
