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Biology of Marine Mammals

Biology of Marine Mammals. Swimming. Pinnipeds Seals: use hind flippers Sea Lions & Walruses: use front flippers Sea lions timed at 35 kph (22 mph) Manatees & Cetaceans Use their tails & flukes Blue & Killer Whales timed at 50 kpm (30mph).

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Biology of Marine Mammals

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  1. Biology of Marine Mammals

  2. Swimming • Pinnipeds • Seals: use hind flippers • Sea Lions & Walruses: use front flippers • Sea lions timed at 35 kph (22 mph) • Manatees & Cetaceans • Use their tails & flukes • Blue & Killer Whales timed at 50 kpm (30mph) • Both jump out of water to breath when swimming fast

  3. Breathing • Avoid inhaling water=take quick breaths • Fin Whales empty and refill lungs in 2 sec • Take in 3,000x more air than humans • Breath out = spout = blow • Combination of seawater, mucus, & CO2 • Blue Whale blow can be 6-12m high

  4. Diving • Sea Otters dive for 4-5 minutes to 55m • Pinnipeds dive for 30min to 150-250m • Elephant Seals = dive to 400-1500m • Weddel Seal = dive for 1hr & 13min • Baleen Whales rarely dive past 100m • Dolphins dive to 300m • Sperm Whale dives to 2,250m

  5. Deep Diving • Need certain adaptations: • Long Time Without Breathing • Need to get as much oxygen to vital organs • 90% of oxygen transferred after each breath • Efficient Oxygen Transfer • Blood contains more red blood cells (erythrocytes), which carry more hemoglobin • Muscles rich in myoglobin • Slow down heart rate from 8512 bpm • Thermoregulate with blood flow

  6. Avoiding the Bends • Bends = nitrogen dissolves in blood and when surfacing forms bubbles, which then get lodged in joints or blood vessels • Marine Mammals avoid this by collapsing lungs • Flexible rib cage • With pressure, air pushed to central lung space where no nitrogen is absorbed • They need less air, meaning less nitrogen

  7. Echolocation • Sixth Sense based on hearing (SONAR) • Emit sound waves & listen for echoes • Distance known by time of reflection • Sharp clicks at different frequencies • Low frequency travel further • Used to stun prey & harm other cetaceans • Sound made by air being forced through air sacs, while blowhole is closed

  8. Melon & Lower Jaw • Melon is Fatty structure • Melon = Focuses & Directs Waves • Sperm Whale has spermaceti organ • Filled with waxy oil (spermaceti) • Used to make candles & lubricant for tools • Lower Jaw = receives the waves & info • Jaw filled with oil, transmitting waves to ears • Information then sent to brain

  9. Behavior • Behavior is based on LEARNING • Since they aggregate in large groups: • Vocalizations extremely important • Sea lions use loud barks and whimpers • Seals use grunts • Dolphins use low frequency vocalizations • Whales use high frequency songs • Vocalizations are like languages, each different for individuals & pods

  10. Behaviors that Communicate • Play Behaviors: pleasurable activities with no goal • Breaching: jumping out of water • Spy Hopping: sticking head out of water to look • Strandings/ Beaching: • Unknown as to why this may occur • Many individuals can beach

  11. Migrations • Usually make Seasonal Migrations • Thousands of Miles from Feeding to Breeding Grounds • Most Remarkable are the Whales: • Feed during Summer in Polar Waters • Breed in warmer tropical waters • Can cover 115 miles/day • Tracked with Radio Transmitters

  12. Reproduction • Harems:groups of females • Only 1 Dominant male • Other Males form Bachelor Groups • Gestation is less than 1 year • Delayed Implantation: • Delay of embryo attaching to uterus wall • Up to 4 months delayed

  13. Sex for Pleasure!!!

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