第3143期:Melting Arctic ice allows large whales to move in

The sea off the coast of East Greenland used to be covered in ice year-round. Now, as it warms and melts completely in the summer, the waters have opened up to new visitors – some of the world's largest whales and the fish that they feed on.

东格陵兰沿岸海域过去全年都被海冰覆盖。现在，随着海水变暖，海冰会在夏季完全融化，这片水域也因此迎来新的 “访客”，包括世界上一些体型最大的鲸类及其捕食的鱼类。

The scientists combined aerial surveys, satellite tagging and observations from local Inuit communities to track them. And the change has been dramatic.

科学家通过结合航空调查、卫星标签定位以及当地因纽特社区的观测，对这些鲸类展开追踪。而其变化十分显著。

Surveys didn't record a single humpback whale sighting in the region until 2006. In 2007, seven humpbacks were seen. And, by 2024, there were 150 sightings of the giant whales from ships. Now, fin whales, humpbacks and minke whales come to East Greenland in their thousands to feed.

直到 2006 年，相关调查才首次在该地区记录到座头鲸的目击报告。2007 年，有七头座头鲸被目击。而到了 2024 年，船只目击这种巨型鲸类的记录已达 150 次。如今，成千上万的长须鲸、座头鲸和小须鲸会汇聚到东格陵兰觅食。

The researchers say this is a huge climate-driven shift, with some easily adapting, while other Arctic species, including belugas, narwhals and walruses, all of which need the ice to hide from predators or to breed, are being edged out.

研究人员表示，这是一次由气候变化驱动的巨大转变。一些物种能够轻松适应，而另一些极地物种，包括白鲸、独角鲸和海象，因需要依赖海冰躲避天敌或繁育后代，正逐渐失去生存空间。