How do killer whales impact the ecosystem?

How do killer whales impact the ecosystem?

Killer whales are top predators in most marine ecosystems and impact the populations of common prey, such as seals and sea lions in breeding areas. Killer whales are host to some endoparasites and ectoparasites.

What is the ecosystem of a killer whale?

Killer whales are found in all oceans. While they are most abundant in colder waters like Antarctica, Norway, and Alaska, they are also found in tropical and subtropical waters. The most well-studied killer whale populations occur in the eastern North Pacific Ocean.

What is the life cycle of an orca?

LIFE CYCLE: Male killer whales generally live 35 years in the wild. Females are longer lived, averaging 50 years with some individuals living past 80.

How do whales affect the ecosystem?

Whales play a vital role in the marine ecosystem where they help provide at least half of the oxygen you breathe, combat climate change, and sustain fish stocks. Different species of whales feed on a range of marine creatures, including krill and fish, in the dark depths of the world’s oceans.

What role do whales play in the ecosystem?

Whales are at the top of the food chain and have an important role in the overall health of the marine environment. Whales play a significant role in capturing carbon from the atmosphere; each great whale sequesters an estimated 33 tons of CO2 on average, thus playing their part in the fight against climate change.

Are killer whales keystone species?

Killer whales are not the keystone species in the Pacific Ocean. Killer whales are a top predator and do play an important role in regulating prey,…

Where do killer whales live in the ocean?

Killer whales live in aquatic marine habitats. They are found in all oceans of the world. Normally prefering depths of 20 to 60 m, killer whales also visit shallow waters along coastlines or dive to 300 m in search of food. Killer whales generally occupy the same home range year round.

What kind of animals do transient killer whales eat?

Transient killer whales have straighter dorsal fins and only two types of saddle markings. They live throughout the coastal waters of the Northwest in small groups. Transient killer whales’ diets are more varied and can include seals, porpoises, sea lions, and other whales.

How is the Southern Resident killer whale protected?

Efforts to establish critical habitat, set protective regulations, and restore prey stocks are essential to conservation, especially for the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population. All killer whale populations are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

How are killer whales affecting the Bering Sea?

• Killer whales may have sequentially depleted marine mammal species in the Bering Sea (Springer et al. 2003). “The irony is that, although whales have become a symbol of the human capacity for greedy overharvest and a rallying point for environmental activists, we know surprisingly little about their ecological role.”*