Blue Whale Songs Drop 40% Amid Ocean Heatwaves, Scientists Warn

Scientists have observed a nearly 40 percent decline in blue whale vocalizations over the past six years, which is linked to a collapse in their primary food sources like krill and anchovies. This decline was documented through underwater hydrophones off the coast of California, coinciding with an unprecedented marine heatwave known as "The Blob" that began in 2013 and expanded across thousands of miles in the Pacific Ocean. The heatwave raised ocean temperatures by more than 4.5°F, triggering toxic algae blooms that devastated marine ecosystems and caused what researchers described as the most widespread poisoning of marine mammals ever recorded. Experts explain that the reduced whale songs reflect the energy constraints the animals face as they struggle to find food, likening it to "trying to sing while starving." The phenomenon highlights broader ecosystem disruptions driven by climate change, with similar declines in blue whale vocalizations reported across other global ocean regions. Scientists warn that these changes signal a deeper crisis unfolding in marine environments, threatening the survival of some of the planet’s largest creatures.