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Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change
Extreme mortality and reproductive failure of common murres resulting from the northeast Pacific marine heatwave of 2014-2016
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Paper Summary
Conflicts of Interest
Identified Weaknesses
Rating Explanation
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Paper Summary
Paperzilla title
A Million Murres Mysteriously Vanish: The Blob Strikes Back!
A massive die-off of approximately 62,000 common murres occurred from 2015-2016, coinciding with the most powerful marine heatwave on record in the Northeast Pacific. The study estimates total mortality to be near one million birds, with the majority of deaths attributed to starvation and multiple reproductive failures observed across murre colonies.
Possible Conflicts of Interest
None identified
Identified Weaknesses
Data collection methods
The study relies heavily on beach surveys and opportunistic sightings of dead murres, which may not accurately reflect the true extent of mortality due to factors such as carcass sinking and scavenging. This could lead to underestimation of the total mortality.
Correlation vs. Causation
While the study suggests a correlation between the marine heatwave and murre mortality, it does not definitively establish a causal relationship. Other factors, such as disease or changes in prey distribution, could have also contributed to the die-off.
Uncertainty regarding HAB effects
The study acknowledges limited information on the effects of harmful algal blooms (HABs) on marine birds and cannot rule out HABs as a contributing factor. This uncertainty makes it difficult to isolate the specific impact of the heatwave.
Rating Explanation
This study presents compelling evidence linking the unprecedented murre die-off to the 2014-2016 marine heatwave. The scale of the die-off and reproductive failures, combined with the observed ecological changes, makes this a significant contribution to our understanding of marine heatwave impacts. Despite some limitations in data collection and establishing direct causality, the study's thorough analysis and proposed 'ectothermic vise' hypothesis warrant a strong rating.
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File Information
Original Title:
Extreme mortality and reproductive failure of common murres resulting from the northeast Pacific marine heatwave of 2014-2016
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July 14, 2025 at 10:40 AM
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