Threats

·         Global Warming

Ringed seals’ habitat is dependent on ice, which makes global warming the biggest threat for ringed seals. Global warming and climate change play a large role in the decreasing Ringed Seals population in Arctic Oceans. Ringed seals are dependent on ice for giving birth, nursing pups, resting and molting. As the temperature increases, the ice begins to melt, which limits the ringed seals’ habitat and decreases their population. Seal pups are now easily being hunted since the ice holes where they hide from a predator are melting earlier than before.

Global warming is also one of the main reasons of ocean acidification. The increase in ocean acidification depletes ringed seals’ prey.

Besides the increase in the ice melting and ocean acidification, global warming brings other threats to ringed seals, and these threats are also other factors that affect ringed the seals’ population and cause habitat loss for ringed seals.

There are two figures shown below. The first figure shows the main cause (climate change) of the decrease in seal population. The second figure represents present and future risk levels of ringed seal species populations due to the climate change and other threats* that they are facing.



The graph (taken from NSCID): shows the rapid decrease of the Arctic Sea Ice Extension that is caused by climate change between the years of 1979-2012

 If the temperatures continue to change and ice extensions continue to decrease, different levels of risk  in various ringed seal species is expected.



Original Figure (reference (5)-p 192) that shows that if the ice melting and other side factors continue, Ringed Seal species abundance will go under higher risk levels.



Some other threats* that cause a decrease in ringed seals population include:

         Shipping activities

The North and South poles are both frozen over and have many icebergs. As the icebergs melt due to global warming, it makes it easier for ships to travel through areas. Shipping activities increase noise pollution, oil spills and by catch in oceans which potentially decrease the ringed seal population.

         Ocean noise pollution

Ocean acidification in Arctic seas, which is caused by climate change, increases the noise pollution because more acidic water causes noise to travel further.

         Hunting

Humans have hunted seals since they first arrived to the Arctic a long time ago. Humans hunted seals for food, clothes, household items and income.

         Ocean contamination

Ships that travel through the arctic sea cause an increase in the amount of discharged garbage, sewage and oil spills.