Lecture 11 Cetaceans

Question 1

Marine Food chains (3)

Answer 1

Longer chains
* Trophic level associated with body size
* Biomagnification

Question 2

Order Cetaceans (What are they and 3 traits)

Answer 2

Baleen and toothed whales

*100% aquatic
*have blubber
*highly social

Question 3

Family ODONTOCETES (what are they and three traits)

Answer 3

Toothed Whales

*1 Blowhole
*echolocation
*Small (except the sperm whale)

Question 4

Sperm whale (5)

Answer 4

*Habitat is >1000m deep water
*exhibit sexual dimorphisms (males are bigger than females)
*Social Species = Females in groups, males are solidary
*Take turns staying at the surface with calf
*Shallower dives when the calf is present

Question 5

Beluga whales (5)

Answer 5

*Have Unfused neck vertebrae
*dorsal ridge (little bump) rather than fin
*Generalists – wide variety of prey
*Key prey species
*Predators: Killer Whales, Humans, Polar Bears

Question 6

Pink river dolphin social structure (4)

Answer 6

*Remain within the population or sub-pop in which they were born
* Various group sizes
* Groups are not based on following mothers
* Often not closely related

Question 7

Estuaries

Answer 7

• Transition zone where fresh and salt water mix

Question 7

Culture and transfer of information (2)

Answer 7

Vertical transmission = learning from parents / elders = stable
Horizontal transmission = learning from peers = less stable

Question 8

Stable isotope analysis (3)

Answer 8

Carbon is built up through the anabolic process of tissue building, because terrestrial plants have less carbon than phytoplankton, primary producer for environment can be inferred

-Catabolic processes involving nitrogen favor the lighter isotope and heavier ones (such as N15) build up over trophic levels

-Fatty acids accumulate in fatty tissue such as blubber, some aren’t synthesized by Mammals therefore can be used to infer diet

Question 9

Narwhal (4)

Answer 9

*Prefer pack (moving) ice as they can get trapped under the ice and suffocate
*Dorsal Ridge rather then fin
*Joined neck vertebrae
*Similar social structure to belugas

Question 10

Family MYSTICETES (5)

Answer 10

*Baleen Whales
*Baleen is made of keratin
*big
*2 blowholes
*Seasonal Migration

Question 11

Bowhead Whales (5)

Answer 11

*Longest whale lifespan
*Live in the arctic and sub arctic
*thiccest blubber and skin
*feed on invertebrates
*Rub against rocks

Question 12

Grey whales (4)

Answer 12

*Distinctive heart shaped blow
*Coastal species
*shallow divers
*feed by succing the floor

Question 13

Grey Whale Migration (2)

Answer 13

*One of the longest migration of all animals (16,000+ KM)

*Spring migration occurs in waves or pulses
*First adult males and juveniles, and newly pregnant females.
* Mothers and babies stay a month or two longer, so babies can gain blubber and strength