Marine Mammals

1. Compare marine mammals to terrestrial mammals.

2. Describe some of the adaptations of marine mammals to their environment.

3. Name and give examples of the 4 marine orders of mammalia.

4. List the 3 size categories of cetaceans.

5. Distinguish between dolphins and porpoises.

6. Describe features of cetacean morphology that contribute to their fusiform shape.

7. Describe the functions of blubber.

8. Explain swimming power of cetaceans.

9. Describe the physiology that contributes to the diving abilities of cetaceans.

10. Explain bouyancy in cetaceans.

11. Compare feeding behaviors of baleen whales with toothed whales.

12. Describe the three types of baleen feeding.

13. Describe migration patterns of whales.

14. Explain behaviors or lifestyles which contribute to migration patterns.

15. Describe growth of calves.

16. Compare cerebral cortex development with lifestyle and senses of cetaceans.

17. Describe smell, taste and touch in whales.

18. Identify the two most important senses and explain how they are significant.

19. Identify and give the significance of SOFAR.

20. Explain the process of echolation.

21. Explain the relationship between sea otter morphology and their lifestyle.

22. Explain why kelp bed communities need sea otters to survive.

23. Defend polar bears’ classification as marine mammals or terrestrial mammals.

24. Compare sea lions and seals.

25. Describe sexual dimorphism in sea lions.

26. Describe the social structure and lifestyle of sea lions.

27. Explain how sea lions utilize their flippers to maintain their body temperature.

28. Describe mechanisms to keep seals warm.

29. Identify the seal found in our area.

30. Define a keystone species. In your opinion, are seals keystone species? Defend your answer.

31. In your opinion, is it wrong to harvest seals? Defend your answer.

32. Explain how the lifestyle of the manatee makes it vulnerable to extinction today.

Vocabulary

appendages
fluke
homeotherm
echolocation
Mysticeti
Odonticeti
Pinnipedia
Carnivora
Sirenia
neutral bouyancy
keratin
copepods
euphausids
ambergris
SOFAR
rookeries
keystone species

Read Chapter 8 in your text.

It covers about 1/8 of what we will learn in this unit on marine mammals.
In addition to that chapter, we will read the following literature reviews, at least 2 of which are quite lengthy and there may be MORE!!!

Space out your reading. It will be tough to get these big boys in your head in one night.

Shane, S. Bottlenose dolphin in the wild. 1988.
Bel’Kovich, et al. Searching and hunting behavior in the bottlenose dolphin
     (Tursiops truncatus)  in the Black Sea.
      In: Dolphin Societies: Discoveries and puzzles. Ed. Pryor, K., et al.
      Berkley: University of California Press. 1991. Pp. 38-77.

Menge, B.A., et al. The keystone species concept: variation in interaction strength
     in a rocky intertidal habitat. Ecological Monographs 64(3): 1994, pp. 249-286.

Wille, C. Saving the sea cow. Nature conservance. Sep/Oct 1995, pp 17-22.

Murison, L.D.; Gaskin, D.E. The distribution of right whales and zooplankton in the
     Bay of Fundy, Canada. Can. J. Zool. 67: 1989, pp. 1411-1420.

Kovacs, K. Bearded seals: Going with the floe. National Geographic. 191(3): 1997,
     pp. 124-137.