New research sheds light on how climate change will impact the distribution of great whales in New Zealand waters.

An international collaborative study between Massey University, the University of Zurich, Canterbury University and Flinders University used a complex modeling approach to project the regional range shift of blue and sperm whales by the year 2100, under different climate change scenarios.

Results show that these species will shift to lower latitudes as the oceans become warmer, exposing sites of high conservation priority. The study, published this week in the international journal Ecological Indicators, shows a southerly shift of suitable habitat for both species, which increases in magnitude as the ocean warms.

Read the full article about climate change and great whales at Environmental News Network.