Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World

Feature:
Irreplaceable Wildlife in A Warming World
Graphic of irreplacable species, emperor penguin.
We are connected to each other, to our environment. From faraway places to our own backyard. But climate change is now changing the Earth as we know it, and animals and plants from the Arctic to the Everglades are feeling the consequences.
Key Resources:

Beluga Whale

A white whale, the extremely social beluga lives in pods that usually have about a dozen members but may include hundreds. Dubbed a “sea canary,” the beluga has the loudest song of any toothed whale, with sounds that travel for miles and make boat hulls vibrate.
Photo Credit:
Kevin Schafer / ILCP (Part of Irreplaceable Wildlife Photo Exhibit)
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Beluga Whale

Scientific Name: 
Delphinapterus leucas
IUCN Red List: 
Vulnerable
Endangered Species Act List: 
Endangered (Cook Inlet population)

One of the smallest whale species, the extremely social beluga lives in pods that usually have about a dozen members but can grow to hundreds of individuals. These white whales are born gray or even brown and slowly fade to white during sexual maturity. Dubbed a “sea canary,” the beluga has the loudest song of any toothed whale, complete with clicks, whistles and clangs that travel for miles and make boat hulls vibrate.

Climate Change Impacts

Unfortunately, belugas sit at the top of an ailing food chain. The whales depend on Arctic cod, a fish unrivaled in abundance and nutrition for belugas. In turn, the cod relies on small crustaceans, called copepods, which feed off the algae that grow on sea ice. Warmer temperatures mean less sea ice, causing a ripple effect that travels up the food chain from the algae to the beluga.

Irreplaceable in Your Neighborhood

The Earthjustice traveling photo exhibit, Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World, is available to bring education, scholarship and research to your community. For more information on booking the exhibit, including fees, exhibit specifications, requirements and descriptions, please contact Nadine de Coteau at 1-800-584-6460.