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The Changing Course of Whale Migration

dlrz4114 from Getty Images/CanvaPro

Great whales such as the humpback capture 33 tons of carbon annually each, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Their nutrient-rich waste supports other ocean species, making their protection essential for biodiversity and the planet.

McGill University, in Quebec, Canada, conducted research on humpback whales, published in Scientific Reports, noting that rising ocean temperatures are disrupting their migration patterns. After analyzing eight years of satellite tracking data of 42 humpback whales in the southeastern Pacific, the researchers discovered that the whales depend on local environmental cues and long-term memories to decide when to migrate.

Each year, they travel thousands of miles from Central American waters to Antarctica, aligning with the annual sea ice melt that triggers the krill bloom. The researchers are uncertain if humpback whales will continue this timely journey in a rapidly changing climate. Professor Virginie Millien, the study’s lead author, states, “We don't know how long they’ll be able to keep up. … At some point, their memory-based strategy may no longer work.”


In-Print National Content Global Brief Global and Health Briefs October 2025

 

 

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Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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