Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Study provides compelling explanation for why California sea lion pups are starving
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/sea-lions-California-starving-food-supply-dying-6874729.phpA new study looking at sea lion populations in Central and Southern California provides an explanation for the sharp and disconcerting increase.
Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration believe the mother sea lions are essentially subsisting on "empty calories" and the dependent pups are malnourished because they're eating the same poor diet.
Sea lions generally consume sardines, anchovies, rockfish, hake and squid. While the sardines and anchovies are oily and nutrient-rich, the rockfish, hake and squid are less nutritious—the equivalent of junk food.
An analysis of data comparing pup strandings and surveys of fish populations between 2004 and 2014 found that even even when squid and rockfish were abundant, the pups' weight was lowest in years when the sardine and anchovy populations were declining — and vice versa.
Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration believe the mother sea lions are essentially subsisting on "empty calories" and the dependent pups are malnourished because they're eating the same poor diet.
Sea lions generally consume sardines, anchovies, rockfish, hake and squid. While the sardines and anchovies are oily and nutrient-rich, the rockfish, hake and squid are less nutritious—the equivalent of junk food.
An analysis of data comparing pup strandings and surveys of fish populations between 2004 and 2014 found that even even when squid and rockfish were abundant, the pups' weight was lowest in years when the sardine and anchovy populations were declining — and vice versa.
