Number of whale And Dolphin A new study has warned that there has been an increase at an exponential rate in the last 30 years stuck on the Scottish coast.
Study published in journal Scientific reportFor the first time, scientists have enabled to determine the scale of increase in marine strands all around Scotlandbeach.
In such incidents, a marine mammal is usually found dead on a beach, or alive on land or in shallow water, but is unable to return to his sea residence.
Researchers at the University of Glasgow saw all the sea mammal species seen in Scottish water, including Balen whales, short-beak common dolphins, harbor porpoise and pelgic dolphins.
He used a 30 -year dataset collected by the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) between 1992 and 2022 to check for distribution and trends in marine mammal strandings.
Overall, 5,147 marine mammals were included in the study, which were stranded in Scotland between 1992 and 2022.
Scientists saw rising rates in all such species, some showing some showing that their strands have increased.
The common dolphins and Balen Whales showed “exponential growth” especially in strands, suggesting that these species are facing unprecedented pressures in Scottish water, the researchers said that the scale and stability “real causes” indicate that the scale and stability “real causes” indicate.
He found that the strand rate of these two species continued to lower during the first two decades of the study, but increased rapidly since 2010.
Researchers also found an asymmetrical growth in strands between adolescent girls of both species, indicating that young animals could be particularly weak.
Based on these findings, the marine experts ask the common dolphin and the conservation efforts of the Balen whale to prioritize.
“Where and when the species are at the most risk, by identifying it, we can target efforts for monitoring and conservation SMASS director Andrew Brownlo said that there is a need to protect the health of these ecosystems at important times and places.
In research, Harbor Porpoise was responsible for more than half of all strands, followed by Pelgic dolphins 24 percent, common dolphins (10 percent), and Balen whale (9 percent).
Overall, there was no sex difference in the annual stranding rates, but different seasonal trends were seen for each group.
Such events were widespread throughout Scotland, but in some areas the stranding of different species was clushed.
According to the study, almost all species on the north -western coast are located on the north -western coast, mainly stuck in the internal More Farth, Outside More Forth and Fourth and Tye and South -East along the eastern coast.
“These animals act as the sea watchdog, and the increasing number of stranding may be an initial warning that something is changing in the sea environment,” Dr. Brownlo said.
He said, “Some conclusions increase important concerns, the study also states that unique hazards are faced in various fields, requiring mitigation strategies to suit each,” he said.