L18: Dolphinsm Porpoises, Orcas, Beaked Whales and Otters

Dolphins

social and playful, eat fish squid and crustaceans, most prefer tropical and temperate habitats

How to mitigate stress for marine mammals under human care?

minimize human interaction, provide enriching environments and activities, manage water quality and noise levels, respect social structures, offer diverse feeding methods, proper veterinary care, monitoring for stress

Human interaction practices

limited contact, visual barriers, and training protocols like positive reinforcement

Porpoises

smaller and chunkier than dolphins, feed on fish and squid, not as social

Beaked Whales

medium sized toothed whales with extended snout, elusive, preferred prey is squid, rapid swimmers

Importance of Dolphins, Porpoises, and Beaked Whales

maintain the ocean healthy by moving nutrients, carbon cycle, and being top predator; helps sustain fish stocks, bioindicators for pollution and fish pops; tourism

Consequences to Dolphins, Porpoises, and Beaked Whales

accidental bycatch/entanglement, climate change, ship strikes, pollution, noise pollution, habitat loss, whaling/hunting

Orcas

the largest of dolphins, main prey larger whales, top predators, matriarchal, varied and adaptable diet, hunters that can communicate with groups, fast swimmers