Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology

Freeman - Biological Science 8th Edition

Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263Not the one you use?Change textbook

Freeman 8th Edition

Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology

Problem 14

Chapter 50, Problem 14

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Mass strandings of whales occur on beaches near military exercises where sonar is used, raising concerns about the effects of human-generated underwater sounds on animal behavior. Scientists are collecting behavioral data on several species of whales to find out how sonar affects them.
Predict why the whale foraged at a depth of 100–170 m.
a. The whale learned to forage at this depth from its mother.
b. The whale had an innate instinct to feed at this depth.
c. The whale's food was most plentiful at this depth.
d. The whale could not dive any deeper than this depth.

Verified step by step guidance

Identify the key factors that influence whale foraging behavior, such as food availability, learned behavior, instinct, and physical limitations.

Consider the ecological aspect: Whales typically forage where their prey is abundant. Evaluate if the depth of 100–170 m is a common habitat for the whale's prey.

Analyze the possibility of learned behavior: Whales often learn foraging techniques and locations from their mothers. Consider if this depth is a known foraging depth passed down through generations.

Examine the role of instinct: Some behaviors are innate and instinctual. Determine if foraging at this depth could be an instinctual behavior for the whale.

Evaluate physical limitations: Consider the whale's diving capabilities and whether 100–170 m is the maximum depth it can reach due to physiological constraints.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Sonar and its Effects on Marine Life

Sonar, or Sound Navigation and Ranging, is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate, or detect objects underwater. Military sonar can produce intense sound waves that may disrupt marine life, particularly cetaceans like whales, which rely on echolocation for navigation and communication. Understanding sonar's impact is crucial for assessing its role in whale strandings and behavioral changes.

Foraging Behavior in Whales

Foraging behavior in whales involves searching for and exploiting food resources. This behavior can be influenced by various factors, including learned behaviors from parents, instinctual patterns, and the availability of prey. Whales may forage at specific depths where prey is abundant, which can be a learned or instinctual behavior, or due to physical limitations in diving capabilities.

Innate vs. Learned Behaviors

Innate behaviors are those that are genetically hardwired and typically exhibited by an organism without prior experience or learning. In contrast, learned behaviors are acquired through interaction with the environment or other organisms, such as parental teaching. Distinguishing between these types of behaviors helps in understanding animal actions, such as why a whale might forage at a particular depth.

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Textbook Question

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Mass strandings of whales occur on beaches near military exercises where sonar is used, raising concerns about the effects of human-generated underwater sounds on animal behavior. Scientists are collecting behavioral data on several species of whales to find out how sonar affects them.

Whales communicate with one another using sound. What is one benefit and one cost to whales of using sound to communicate underwater?

Textbook Question

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Researchers followed tagged blue whales to observe how they respond to simulated military sonar—using sound levels much lower than those typically used during military exercises. Analyze the sample of data below for one individual blue whale and summarize the behavioral effect of the sound exposure.

Textbook Question

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Using the graph, estimate the number of minutes of foraging per hour before and after the sound exposure. Then predict the effect of sonar on the fitness of blue whales. Explain your reasoning.

Textbook Question

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The researchers also measured the speed and direction of whale swimming in response to the sound exposure. Whales increase their speed and swim away from the direction of sound. Design a study to test the hypothesis that this behavior leads to beach strandings. Note that you will not receive permission to conduct the study if your actions are likely to cause strandings to occur.

Textbook Question

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There are debates about what action the military should take to avoid harming the whales. How could you apply cost–benefit analysis to address this problem?