Scientists use AI to reveal alarming finding: 7,000 humpback whales have died since 2012

In the vast and mysterious North Pacific Ocean, a careful study has revealed an alarming decline in humpback whale populations. more than 7,000 of these majestic marine mammals perished between 2012 and 2021. This discovery, which shook the scientific community, is the result of international collaboration and the innovative use of artificial intelligence in marine life research.

The research, published in Royal Society Open Sciencepointed directly at the extended sea ​​heat wavewhich was launched in 2013 and extended until 2021, as the root cause of this significant population decline, which represents a 20% decrease over this period.

This phenomenon, colloquially known as the “blob”, wreaked havoc on the marine food chain due to a lack of nutrients for phytoplankton to a decline in the prey available for larger species, including whales, sea lions and seabirds.

With the collaboration of 46 organizations and 4,292 community science contributors, the study was able to collect data and images from more than 30,000 individual humpback whalesinclusive more than 200,000 encounters.

This monumental data set could only be processed thanks to the adoption of the image recognition technologies they employ Artificial Intelligencewhich allowed efficient matching and identification of whales based on unique features in their tail fin shapes and pigment patterns.

Happy whalethe platform used to collect this data has received nearly 800,000 photos to date, allowing the identification of more than 100,000 Whales individual. This tool not only facilitated a pioneering approach to marine research, but encouraged greater participation by citizen scientists and marine observers. Whalesdemocratizing the data collection process and supporting collaborative research at the global level.

Despite a significant population recovery Humpback whale after the ban on commercial hunting Whales in 1986 by International Whaling CommissionThis study sheds light on the harsh reality of the impact of climate change on marine life.

A specific case of a group of these whales migrating between them Alaska y Hawaiistands out with a decrease of 34%, indicating a differentiated impact and possibly related to their specific migration pattern and the disruption of their food chains due to the ‘blob’.

This research not only highlights the fragility of marine ecosystems in the face of extreme climate events and their rapid succession, but also raises pressing questions about how to protect and preserve these valuable and long-lived species.

Using advanced technologies such as image recognition through Artificial Intelligencerepresents a ray of hope for more efficient and effective monitoring of whale populations, allowing scientists to detect and respond to population changes with unprecedented speed.

This study represents a milestone in marine life research, bringing cutting-edge technology to marine conservation and highlighting the importance of international collaboration and incorporating community input to combat the destructive effects of marine life. climate change in our oceans.