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Marine Mammals

Now's we're getting to the good stuff. Eagles are neat, but Whales, Seals and Sea Lions are definitely where it's at.

Photos by Brenton Savikko

Notice how streamline this humpback whale and harbor seals are.

Communication: Whales are amazing mammals on many levels. Lets talk about how they communicate. Whales communicate at very low frequencies, making sounds that can go as low as 12 Hz. Low frequencies travel farther than high frequencies, and there are certain depths in the ocean which allow sound to oscillate back and forth, making it so whales can communicate up to 1000 miles away. "It is shown that humpbacks can greatly affect transmission range by adjusting their positions and sounds in response to environmental factors. Source depth, in particular, is shown to be a major determinant of which frequencies propagate the farthest. A preliminary analysis of range-dependent distortion suggests that spectral cues can potentially provide listening whales with information about how far a sound has traveled." ( http://scitation.aip.org)

Speed: Factors affecting an marine mammals speed through the water include: overall size and shape, size and shape of fins and flukes, and the conditions under which they operate. Most marine mammals are very streamline. "Streamlining minimizes the amount of fluid that must be 'pushed out of the way' before a body can move forward and reduces drag due to turbulence as the fluid closes in behind a moving body. A smooth body tapered on both ends is generally best for this." (http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/topics/r_haulin'_bass.htm#speed) Orcas (also known as killer whales) are one of the fastest species of dolphins. They are sleek and muscular and can catch just about anything that swims. They have been recorded swimming up to speeds of 35 mph! Other species that are commonly seen around the area are Steller Sea Lions, which can travel up to 25 mph, Dall's Porpoise, which can travel 34 mph, and the King salmon which can travel 8 mph.

Fun Fact! Seals and Sea lions have a huge layer of fat because the conduction of heat through a thick layer of fat is slower than through a thin layer!

Killer whales and a few humpbacks breaching. Photos by Brenton Savikko