University of Minnesota leads first-ever Weddell seal count

Weddell seal
The University of Minnesota has led the first-ever count of Weddell seals on Antarctica.
Courtesy of Michelle LaRue

Want to know how climate change is affecting fisheries? You might want to ask a seal.

That’s more or less what a research team led by the University of Minnesota is working on. It just completed a first-ever global population estimate of Weddell seals in Antarctica. It will act as a baseline for future counts, which can tell scientists how climate change is affecting fish and seal habitats in Antarctica.

How did they do it, and how many did they spot? Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences research associate Michelle LaRue, the study’s lead author, joined Climate Cast this week.

Click play on the audio player above or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.