Lorayne Meltzer has lived along the Gulf of California for 30 years. As an ecologist and director of a binational field station, she’s supported many scientists in their research into this biodiverse region of northwestern Mexico. Over time, she’s observed changes in the region’s ecosystems and species firsthand. Most of these changes, she said, haven’t been positive. “I’ve noticed concerning changes,” Meltzer told Mongabay Latam. “Even on recreational trips to the islands, these changes were visible. So, we had the idea of getting in touch with researchers with long-term databases on various taxa, from the smallest animal in the world to the largest whale, to see if this decline is general or only among certain species.” The result was a new collaborative report produced by Meltzer’s field station, the Kino Bay Center at Prescott College, and the binational organization Next Generation Sonoran Desert Researchers (N-Gen). The report brings together decades of scientific research showing an alarming decline in populations of species at the top of the food chain throughout this Mexican sea. Among the groups in decline, according to the report’s findings, are seabirds, whales, flying squid, crabs, starfish and fish. “Unfortunately, their health is declining on average,” Meltzer said. “Some groups, such as sea turtles, seem to be recovering, and at the plankton level, the ecosystem is quite healthy. However, it’s very normal for megafauna to be the most impacted within ecosystems, which are animals that take longer to reproduce.” A fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) off the coast of…This article was originally published on Mongabay
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