Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1007/s00300-023-03218-5
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) 3000 leagues under the sea: the voyages of vagrant walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) in temperate Europe
Author Chiacchio, M.; Aae, R.
Source Titel Polar Biology
Year 2024
Department NSF
Volume 47
Issue 2
Page From 179
Page To 185
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Keywords Atlantic Ocean; Climate change; Geographic distribution; Migration; Odobenus rosmarus; Seasonal movement; Vagrancy
Abstract Sightings of vagrant walruses in Europe have been known since historic times, yet whether this phenomenon remains constant or changes over time is unclear. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive cross-reference of information on vagrant walruses observed in temperate Europe (below 61° N) between 1923 and 2022 utilising data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility depository. In addition, we conducted an online search of records from the last ten years, resulting in a detailed reconstruction of the movements of the most recently observed individuals. We estimated that between 31 and 36 different individuals have been observed over the last century, with most of these likely originating from the Svalbard region and only a few from Greenland. A comparison in the yearly number of records showed a significant increase over time, suggesting that vagrant walruses reach Europe as a result of a combination of climatic and meteorological events as well as of demographic changes in the populations of the North Atlantic.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=28773
Chiacchio, M., Aae, R. (2024):
3000 leagues under the sea: the voyages of vagrant walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) in temperate Europe
Polar Biol. 47 (2), 179 - 185 10.1007/s00300-023-03218-5