Podcast
Questions and Answers
What are the primary food sources for bowhead whales?
What are the primary food sources for bowhead whales?
- Fish and squid
- Small crustaceans like shrimp and krill (correct)
- Seaweed and plankton
- Large marine mammals
What physical adaptation helps bowhead whales survive in Arctic waters?
What physical adaptation helps bowhead whales survive in Arctic waters?
- A layer of blubber up to 19 inches thick (correct)
- A streamlined body shape
- Long fins for fast swimming
- The ability to slow down their metabolism
How do bowhead whales primarily communicate?
How do bowhead whales primarily communicate?
- By producing vibrations
- Using a variety of sounds, including songs (correct)
- With visual signals like tail slaps
- Through body movements
Why do bowhead whales migrate to different water temperatures?
Why do bowhead whales migrate to different water temperatures?
What allows bowhead whales to break through thick ice floes?
What allows bowhead whales to break through thick ice floes?
Flashcards
What are bowhead whales?
What are bowhead whales?
Bowhead whales are baleen whales, meaning they filter food through baleen plates in their mouths, similar to combs, allowing them to strain small crustaceans like shrimp and krill from the water.
Where do bowhead whales migrate?
Where do bowhead whales migrate?
Bowhead whales migrate to follow their food sources, spending winters near ice edges where crustaceans are abundant and moving further north in summer as the ice melts.
How are bowhead whales adapted to the Arctic?
How are bowhead whales adapted to the Arctic?
Bowhead whales have the thickest blubber layer of any whale, providing insulation against the Arctic's cold waters. Their thick skulls also allow them to break through ice floes, making them uniquely adapted to this environment.
How do bowhead whales communicate?
How do bowhead whales communicate?
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What are bowhead whales known for?
What are bowhead whales known for?
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Study Notes
Bowhead Whales
- Environment: The Arctic is a harsh environment with long, cold winters and thick ice floes.
- Adaptation: Bowhead whales have adapted to survive in the Arctic.
- Baleen Whales: They are baleen whales that filter food.
- Baleen Plates: Their baleen plates act like combs to filter ocean water, trapping small crustaceans like shrimp and krill.
- Food Consumption: They eat about 220,000 pounds of food annually.
- Size: Adult bowhead whales can be up to 60 feet long and weigh up to 200,000 pounds.
- Migration: They migrate to follow food sources.
- Winter Migration: Cold water, with more small crustaceans, is their focus in winter, so they stay near the ice edges.
- Summer Migration: Warmer water; they move further north in summer.
- Blubber Layer: Crucial adaptation for warmth; their blubber layer is significantly thick (17-19 inches).
- Skull Strength: Their skulls are exceptionally thick and strong, enabling them to break through ice as thick as 8 inches (sometimes even 2 feet).
- Communication: They use various sounds, including constant notes and different pitches.
- Unique Songs: Unlike other whales, their songs change constantly.
- Lifespan: Scientists can estimate age by harpoon marks. Evidence suggests they can live for over 200 years, potentially up to 250 years.
- Possible Birth Time: Some bowhead whales may have been born in the 1800s.
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