Big Trouble for Little Birds | National Geographic

I am Enric Sala leader of this National

I am Enric Sala leader of this National Geographic Christine C’s expedition to

Geographic Christine C’s expedition to

Geographic Christine C’s expedition to the Russian Arctic Franz Josef land is

the Russian Arctic Franz Josef land is

the Russian Arctic Franz Josef land is home to 50 species of seabirds and

home to 50 species of seabirds and

home to 50 species of seabirds and almost all of them depend on the ocean

almost all of them depend on the ocean

almost all of them depend on the ocean for food

here on brush island we find a thriving

here on brush island we find a thriving population of little auks they kind of

population of little auks they kind of

population of little auks they kind of look like penguins that can fly there

look like penguins that can fly there

look like penguins that can fly there must be thousands here they seem to be

must be thousands here they seem to be

must be thousands here they seem to be adapting well to their changing

adapting well to their changing

adapting well to their changing environment because of the lack of sea

environment because of the lack of sea

environment because of the lack of sea ice in the summer they don’t have to fly

ice in the summer they don’t have to fly

ice in the summer they don’t have to fly as far to find their food kind of

as far to find their food kind of

as far to find their food kind of plankton but our study shows that the

plankton but our study shows that the

plankton but our study shows that the average body mass of adult little logs

average body mass of adult little logs

average body mass of adult little logs has decreased by four percent and we

has decreased by four percent and we

has decreased by four percent and we don’t know why this is a plant on net it

don’t know why this is a plant on net it

don’t know why this is a plant on net it captures small organisms like the

captures small organisms like the

captures small organisms like the plankton the little auks eat biologist

plankton the little auks eat biologist

plankton the little auks eat biologist Daria Marty Nova is keen to examine the

Daria Marty Nova is keen to examine the

Daria Marty Nova is keen to examine the samples

samples

samples this is plantain

plankton are tiny creatures that form

plankton are tiny creatures that form the bottom of the ocean food chain and

the bottom of the ocean food chain and

the bottom of the ocean food chain and at an intricate part of the ecosystem

at an intricate part of the ecosystem

at an intricate part of the ecosystem but Daria is finding something unusual

but Daria is finding something unusual

but Daria is finding something unusual I’m focusing on plant ammonia

I’m focusing on plant ammonia

I’m focusing on plant ammonia crustaceans she’s finding plankton known

crustaceans she’s finding plankton known

crustaceans she’s finding plankton known to thrive in the Arctic Ocean but she’s

to thrive in the Arctic Ocean but she’s

to thrive in the Arctic Ocean but she’s also found one here that comes from

also found one here that comes from

also found one here that comes from farther south this one is warm water guy

farther south this one is warm water guy

farther south this one is warm water guy it’s maids way north because of climate

it’s maids way north because of climate

it’s maids way north because of climate change the problem is that the Atlantic

change the problem is that the Atlantic

change the problem is that the Atlantic plankton

plankton

plankton looks like the Arctic kind which is the

looks like the Arctic kind which is the

looks like the Arctic kind which is the main food for the little arks receivers

main food for the little arks receivers

main food for the little arks receivers cannot tell the difference but the warm

cannot tell the difference but the warm

cannot tell the difference but the warm water plankton are smaller and provide

water plankton are smaller and provide

water plankton are smaller and provide less energy for the little birds this

less energy for the little birds this

less energy for the little birds this could account for the little auks

could account for the little auks

could account for the little auks smaller body mass but it will take more

smaller body mass but it will take more

smaller body mass but it will take more testing to know for certain what we do

testing to know for certain what we do

testing to know for certain what we do know is that this is just one example of

know is that this is just one example of

know is that this is just one example of how the environment is changing and we

how the environment is changing and we

how the environment is changing and we have a lot more work to do to understand

have a lot more work to do to understand

have a lot more work to do to understand what exactly the Arctic is becoming