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Northern Pacific

All articles tagged with #northern pacific

environment2 years ago•6 min saved

"Unveiling an Ancient Orca Oasis: 20,000-Year-Old Refugium Discovered in Northern Pacific"

Researchers have discovered that orca pods in the northern Pacific, near Japan and Russia, have distinct cultures, dialects, and traditions due to their ice age ancestry. Some pods have stayed in their refugiums from the ice age rather than migrating, leading to differences in diet and behavior. The researchers argue for the classification of orcas into several species or subspecies to better understand their ecotypes and their impact on ecosystem balance and fishing practices.

via SciTechDaily|

#ecotypes #environment #ice-age

environment2 years ago•5 min saved

Ancient Sanctuary: Orcas' 20,000-Year-Old Refuge Discovered in Northern Pacific

Researchers have discovered a 20,000-year-old refugium for orcas in the northern Pacific near Japan, showing that the orca pods living near Nemuro Strait are descendants of orcas that settled there during the last ice age. The orcas in this region have distinct genetic diversity and vocal repertoires, indicating their conservative and tradition-bound nature. This finding provides insights into how orcas may handle current and future climate changes, suggesting that they may move northward in small family or pod groups. The discovery also highlights the need to classify orcas into different ecotypes, as their diet preferences significantly impact the ecosystem and fishing practices.

via Phys.org|

#environment #genetic-analysis #ice-age-refugia