How rising water temperatures impact marine and aquatic life

Sharks are migratory animals that move to warmer waters in winter and cooler waters in summer. With temperatures rising, however, sharks are venturing further and further north to find comfortable waters—entering habitats they previously never visited. 

Sharks are invasive to these new habitats. They eat new foods and compete with new species, potentially disrupting the existing food chain. Sharks are also searching for food closer to the coast, increasing the possibility of interactions between sharks and humans.  

When the waters around them are warmer, sharks run at higher temperatures and, according to studies, increase their metabolic rates. This makes all activities—from swimming to digesting—more energy-consuming, affecting how often they need to eat and the level of nutrients they get from their food. Experts are also researching the possible effects of warming waters on sharks’ reproductive habits. 

Whales 

Despite being the largest animals in the ocean, whales feed on some of the smallest creatures—plankton. However, warming waters severely affect the survival rate of these tiny organisms and can reduce their numbers by up to 26%. As such, whales are struggling to find food. 

Some whale species are also affected by changes in seasonal ice coverage and thickness, as warming waters cause the ice to melt unpredictably. When beluga whales travel through these icy areas during migrations, for example, they can get trapped in ice, leaving them unable to come up for air or find prey—often, this is fatal.  

Higher temperatures can also affect the chemistry of the ocean, elevating the concentration of plastic, chemicals, and other pollutants. These can impact a whale’s immune system and its ability to reproduce. The ocean is also becoming more acidic, changing the way sounds are absorbed in water. As whales communicate through sound, this impacts their ability to hunt, navigate, and talk to other whales.