Researchers from Chile Use seals to Check on Antarctic Climate Changes

Chile scientists have joined with the U.S to implement sensors on Crabeater seals in to find the hidden secrets of the ‘Nature Climate Change’ in the Antarctic.

Scientists have also stated that if they find the activities of the crabeater seal then they will easily find their way of distribution in Antarctic Krill which plays a major role in the food chain and the carbon cycle.

The co-writer of study and a physical oceanographer at the Research Center of Dynamics of High Latitude Marine Ecosystems (IDEAL), Andrea Piñones stated that this is the initial process to see the life of crabeater seals amidst climate-changing situations.

She also added saying: “Crabeater seals feed primarily on krill –more than 90% of their diet – so basically if you understand where the predator feeds, you not only understand their feeding behavior but also understand where the prey is.”

In order to keep track of Krill, it’s important to first find the seals. The sensors which were kept on the seals showed movements recorded and released in Antarctica with their dives and how deep they go, salinity, temperature and depth of the sea, and so on. The sensors sent these via satellites which viewed by the researchers.