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level: Level 1

Questions and Answers List

level questions: Level 1

QuestionAnswer
Pinnipedia characteristics• Have flipper-shaped hands and feet for swimming • very thick blubber • bear young on land
Family Otariidae characteristics• external ear flaps • Can rotate their rear limbs under their body, lift their head and shoulders above ground • Can walk on land ok • Swim by moving forelimbs, use hind limbs for stability
Stellar sea lion physical characteristics• Largest Otariid • Females ~ 1/3 the weight of males • Golden brown colour call is a "roar"
What status are BC stellar sea lions?Special Concern & Blue Listed
When and where do stellar sea lions breed?June and July in outer coast rookeries (e.g., Scott Islands, Cape St. James)
Stellar sea lion preypollock, hake, dogfish and salmon. Winters = herring and eulachon in Straight of Georgia
California sea lion physical characteristics• Smaller than Stellers • Fur is dark brown • Adult males have brow ridge (“indented forehead”) • Utters a “honking bark”
California sea lion diethake, herring, salmon
Northern fur seal characteristics• Dense & soft dark gray brown fur • long whiskers, pointed noses, long hind flippers
Northern fur seal statusRed listed, Threatened - Hunted extensively for fur in 1800s
Northern fur seal habitat and diet• Mainly found offshore; occasionally seen in coastal waters • While in BC, feed on herring & salmon
Northern fur seal reproduction and migration• Breed on Prilobof Island in Berring sea during summer • Females and juveniles migrate south to California
Northern fur seal reproduction and migration• Breed on Prilobof Island in Berring sea during summer • Females and juveniles migrate south to California
Family Phocidae characteristics• Cannot rotate hindlimbs under body • Therefore move awkwardly on land (“wriggle”) • Swim using their hind limbs and steer with forelimbs • Lack external ear flaps
Harbour seal characteristics- sexes are similar in size - Usually mottled grey in appearance
Harbour seal diet and habitat• Opportunistic feeders on several fish • Pups often left on shore while mother forages • Found all along BC coast • Usually seen resting on “haul outs’ (e.g. rocky reefs, sand bars, log booms) • Apparently little social structure in haul outs
Northern elephant seal migration and distribution• Breed on northern California beaches in winter • In BC from spring to fall; often seen hauled out on Race Rocks
Northern elephant seal feeding• Feed mainly offshore (dogfish, pollock, hake) • Excellent deep sea divers
Northern elephant seal feeding• Feed mainly offshore (dogfish, pollock, hake) • Excellent deep sea divers
Order Cetacea characteristicsLack hind limbs Nostrils on top of head Swim using up and down movement of tail
Suborder Odontoceti (toothed whales) characteristics• Have homodont dentition (teeth are all same shape) • Single blow hole (other nasal passage modified for echolocation) • Most have a complex social structure
How do you tell male and female orcas apart?Males = Long straight dorsal fin Females = shorter curved dorsal fin
Characteristics of resident killer whales- very vocal, travel in matrilineal family groups (pods) of 5-50 whales - 19 pods in BC, each with different dialects - feed primarily on fish, especially chinook salmon - divided into northern and southern populations
Characteristics of transient killer whales- smaller groups of 2 to 5 individuals that may or may not be related - vocalize less than residents; dorsal fins more pointed at tip than residents - feed exclusively on warm-blooded prey e.g. seals, sea lions and porpoises
Characteristics of offshore killer whales- mainly seen beyond continental shelf; travel in groups of 25 or more - have different vocalizations than residents and transients - Rarely seen not much known about their social structure or diet
What is the status of each of the killer whale populations in BC?- Southern resident = Red listed/endangered - Northern resident = Threatened, Blue listed - Transient = Threatened, Red listed - Offshore = Threatened, Blue listed
What are some potential reasons for the recent drop in orca populations?– accumulation of environmental toxins (e.g., PCBs) – fluctuations in prey species (e.g., decreases in salmon runs) -- Some concern eco-tourism affecting feeding behaviour