What is black and white and red all over? Killer whale predation in the Arctic

The Arctic ice-free season has increased in area and duration providing killer whales with an expanding arena for predation. A research group called “Orcas of the Canadian Arctic” set out to understand this change. Initially we compiled a database to document the historical occurrence, distribution, feeding ecology, and seasonality of killer whales in the region. Sighting reports, anecdotal evidence, Inuit traditional ecological knowledge, and photographic identification indicated that killer whale occurrence is increasing. Killer whales fitted with satellite transmitters showed that the whales moved from bay to inlet during the summer while feeding on bowhead, beluga, and narwhal whales. The tagged whales left the Arctic region prior to heavy ice formation in the fall. Tissue analysis showed differences between killer whales from the Arctic and Atlantic regions. Atlantic killer whales fed on both marine mammals and fish, whereas Arctic killer whales preyed upon whales and seals but not fish. Prey use different strategies to minimize the risk of being eaten by killer whales. In response, killer whales have learned specific attack methods for each of their prey. As the Arctic warms, the bowhead, beluga, and narwhal whales are at risk from increasing predation by killer whales. Is this how the Arctic will be transformed?