Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Saving the World, One Mysticete at a Time

I'm not so sure that Yall are going to like this too much, it's a bit of homework that I did for my Succeeding in Science coarse. I had to write an introduction to a research paper. Most people see the word 'introduction' and think, one paragraph. Tell the reader my point. Write a thesis statement. Short and to the point, right? A lot like this paragraph right here... Wait til you get a load of this short sweet and to the point introduction that just barely met the word count requirement of 550 words.

Mysticeti are whales that do not have teeth, instead they have rows of baleen. Baleen is made of keratin and project from the outer edges of the palate (Croll, et al). Mysticeti use these rows of baleen to filter water out of the mouth while feeding (Gormely, et al). There are four kinds of feeding habits that Mysticeti use. The most common is known as intermittent ram suspension feeding, generally used by rorquals such as humpbacks, blue, and fin whales. Continuous suspension feeding, used by bowhead and right whales, and sediment feeding, employed by gray whales, are the other two widely accepted feeding patterns (Cetacean Palaeobiology, et al). Bubble nets or bubble clouds are also thought to be feeding methods, but there are those who dispute the bubble method (Gormley, et al).

Rorquals, whales with ridges (Cetacean Palaeobiology), hunt by swimming very fast into a school of prey fish with their mouths open. Fish and water rush into the whales’ mouths causing the ventral pleats to expand, once the mouth is full, the whale shuts it, sometimes needing to surface, often seen in humpbacks, in order for the mouth to fully shut. Once shut, the whales push the water through the baleen(Croll, et al). Some whales use their tongue, others rely on the elasticity of the ventral pleats (Gormley, et al). Blue whales feeding grounds have been very difficult to locate, one off the coast of Australia has been found since the 1980’s. The Bonney Upwelling, a seasonal change in water salinity and temperature, causes the number of krill in the Great Barrier Reef to rise drastically, bringing with them blue whales. This could mean that the number of blues world wide is growing and they are looking for more feeding grounds, or the availability of krill is dwindling, forcing the blues to search for food elsewhere. Very little is known about the massive animals and finding this feeding ground could help scientists discover where they go after they leave and possibly where they breed, which would be a major break through in Mysticeti research (Grill, et al).

Continuous suspension feeders keep their mouths open all the time, collecting krill and copepods in the mouth cavity, occasionally closing the gap between the baleen to filter the water out (Cetacean Palaeobiology, et al).

Sediment feeding gray whales roll onto their side, scooping mud and crustaceans into the mouth, the close their mouth and expel the water and mud out of the side of the mouth. Gray whales have recently been sighted lingering in San Francisco Bay, a place they supposedly abandoned over 150 years ago, this could be due to a growing population. Gray whales are said to have had a breeding ground there for some time (Tannenbaum, et al).

Bubble nets are used by rorquals, groups of up to 12 whales swim under a school of fish, blowing circles of bubbles around the school, causing the school to squeeze tighter and higher as the whales swim up. When the school reaches the surface, the whales swim up through the center with mouths agape, sometimes consuming entire schools (Croll, et al). Some skeptics say that the bubbles released are simply the whales emptying their lungs before taking huge mouthfuls of fish and that the bubbles do nothing to corral the fish (Gromley, et al).

Knowing the location of prey food for Mysticeti helps scientists to understand the way the ocean’s climate and salinity change with global warming, pollution and human interference. This knowledge allows humanity to better preserve the diminishing population of the wondrous creatures that live in the abyss that we know so little about. With recent finding with the blue and gray whales, we can delve deeper into the intricacies of ecosystem interdependency and how we can do more to preserve what is left until we find ways to bring animals like the pacific right whales back from the brink of extinction.

Daddy says I'm gonna save the world, I think these creatures would be an amazing place for anyone to start.

13 comments:

GEWELS said...

That's an intro paragraph? That would have been my whole report.

Just saving the whales would be accomplishment enough....

bulletholes said...

I love you Water Baby!

bulletholes said...

I use the Continuous Ram Suspension Method (Gorging et al).

kissyface said...

I'm quite sure they are smarter than humans. I've never understood what would possess a man to kill such a great beast; I understand even less how they are still being hunted. I think some species of whales and dolphins have things to teach us about leading with our hearts. Why are there so any stories about dolphins saving human beings? What have we ever done to benefit them. Whales seem like they know something more about us. Why don't you crack their code?

You're a really strong and clear writer. Keep honing those skills!

Water Baby said...

Gewels, I saw the word count requirement and ran to my roommate to make sure it wasn't a type-o!!

Daddy, gosh your silly, but that's why I love you!

Kissyface, just wait till you see what I have to say about Orcas!! Thank you, I have been writing for a while and enjoy it very much!

bulletholes said...

"No branch of Zoology is so much involved as that which is entitled Cetology," says Captain Scoresby, A. D. 1820.

"If God were a fish, he'd be a Whale, believe you me!" Stubbs

Annelisa said...

Excellent start Water Baby!!

I must admit to liking whales and dolphins, and was totally jealous of my younger sister swimming with dolphins in Ireland.

When I was in Denmark recently, I stayed on the island where my mum was born, and just as the sun was setting across the sea a school of dolphins (or rather porpoises) swam by really close to the shore...it was the most amazing sight ever!

Do you get your love of whales from your dad? (I know how he loves Moby Dick)

So, how's the course going...is it all you wanted?

Water Baby said...

I love it, we go the the beach all the time and when we cross the bridge over the island, dolphins are usually swimming in the ship channel! its pretty cool!

GEWELS said...

Seeing as how you adore the creatures of the deep I will direct you to 2 posts on my site.
Check out my Aug. 23rd post with my Whale photos and my Jan. 15th post about swiming with dolphins.
I think you'll like them.

Sorry, I'm an idiot about computers and don't know how to link them here. Actually, I'm too lazy to look up how to link them here. Sorry.

Anonymous said...

hi water babe,

your dad is soooo proud of you - and I can see why !!!!

Yes, love - you ARE going to save the world, one mysticete at a time, one porpoise at a time, one orca at a time, one sea turtle at a time .... i suppose i should stop now, singing your praises.

As a soon to be learning how to be a teacher, if i EVER so much as DECLARE 550 words to be the minimum opening paragraph for any paper, you have the right to shoot me on the spot and save me from my excessive delusions of academia ....

geesh! good luck to you, girl! Save this - you can use it for your opening paragraphs of your Master's thesis !!! seriously!

love,
RDG

Water Baby said...

RDG, thanks for the advice! I like to keep all of the papers I write, you never know when you might need them!

Mother of Invention said...

This is a fabulous start and you make it clear that you not only understand a great deal of information about them, but love them as well.

I love the bubble nets best! I was hooked on these mammals when I watched the first "Flipper" series on tv in the 50's and 60's. Then, I actually learned a lot more about them when I taught a whole unit on Whales for a Gr. 2 class! To teach it is to learn it!

Good luck in your studies. It will be interesting for all of us to follow your progress....one whale at a time!

Water Baby said...

Gewels, I read your posts, I loved them, one of my roommates got to go to Washington and see pods of Orcas! She has some really cool video, I'll see if I can get it on here one day!

Mom, Thank you so much! I'll keep posting and keep you up to date!!!