NewsPast Whaling Endangers Future: Scientists Reveal Marine Crisis

Past Whaling Endangers Future: Scientists Reveal Marine Crisis

Whale bones helped researchers prove that hunting these animals is disastrous in its consequences.

Images source: © Oregon State University

12:22 PM EDT, April 8, 2024

Research conducted at Oregon State University proves that mass whaling in the 20th century may have severely impacted the biodiversity of today’s marine species. This conclusion rests on DNA analyses performed on the remains of giant whale skeletons found along various coasts.

Experts zeroed in on the study of remains discovered on a beach in southern Georgia, near what were once bustling hubs for research on these majestic creatures.

Ancient bones were compared with the DNA of living whales, leading to surprising discoveries for the researchers involved.

This analysis indicates that the widespread whaling of the 20th century played a significant role in dramatically reducing the number of these animals and diminishing the genetic diversity of these unique marine inhabitants.

Surprising Discovery Unearthed by Scientists

Scientific analyses confirm that the intensive hunting of whales led to a significant loss of genetic diversity, as evidenced by the traces found on the ancient bones.

A notable reduction in DNA diversity was observed in various species, including blue whales and humpbacks.

Angela Sremba, the lead researcher and conductor of the project during her doctoral studies at Oregon, emphasized that genetically transmitted material encompasses aspects such as animals' cultural knowledge, including their feeding and breeding sites. The loss of the maternal line leads to the disappearance of traits characteristic of a specific population.

It is observed that whaling drastically reduced the numbers of the world’s largest whale species, as hunters predominantly targeted the biggest specimens.

Over sixty years off the southern coast of Georgia, more than 175,000 whale deaths were recorded. Globally, hunters eliminated nearly 2 million of these giants. Although whale populations are showing signs of recovery, the threat of extinction for more species still looms.