Marine Mammals -IB 41

 

 

Lecture:                                                          Monday and Wednesday, 9-10, 155 Dwinnelle

 

Instructor:                                                      David R. Lindberg,

                                                                           Office Hrs. Friday, 9-11, 5110 Valley Life Sciences Bldg

                                                                           drl@Berkeley.Edu

 

Graduate Student Instructor:                   Joey Pakes

                  Office Hrs, Monday 4-6, FreeSpeech Café

                  pakes@Berkeley.Edu

 

Undergraduate Student Instructor:       Brianna McCoy

                                                                           Office Hrs, Wednesday 1-3, 2011VLSB

                                                                           bmcoy@Berkeley.Edu

 

 

 

Lecture Notes are available from:

 

ASUC Lecture Notes Online

(formerly Black Lighting)

 

blln.securesites.com

 

 

                                                          

 

Optional Text: Marine Mammals: Evolutionary Biology 2 nd ed.

by Annalisa Berta, James L. Sumich, & Kit M. Kovacs. 2006. 

Available at ASUC Bookstore.

 

 

Section 1 Lectures: 27 Aug. – 26 Sept.

Midterm I – Monday, 1 October, 50points - 25% of grade

 

Section 2 Lectures: 3 Oct. – 1 Nov.

Midterm II – Monday 5 November, 50points - 25% of grade

 

Section 3 Lectures: 7 Nov. – 10 Dec.

Extra Credit Field Trip Due no later than

5:00 p.m. 14 December

(maximum 10 additional points)

 

Final– Wednesday 19 December, 8:00-11:00 a.m.

100 points - 50% of grade×

 

   

 

 

 


 

 

IB 41 Marine Mammal

Midterms and Finals

 

 

Tests are multiple choice and you are required to bring a Parscore scantron form and

No. 2 pencil to class on the days of the midterms and the final.

 

 

 

Grading Procedure

 

                             97%or >    = A+           77% - 79% = C+

                   93% - 96% = A             73% - 76% = C

                   90% - 92% = A-            70% - 72% = C-

                   87% - 89% = B+           67% - 69% = D+

                   83% - 86% = B             63% - 66% = D

                   80% - 82% = B-            60% - 62% = D-

                                      Less than 59% = F

 

 

                                   P/NP

                                                          Pass = 70% or greater

                                     No Pass = 69% or less

 


 

 

Optional Readings from Marine Mammals: Evolutionary Biology  2nd ed.

 

Annalisa Berta, James L. Sumich, & Kit M. Kovacs. 2006. 

 

Available at ASUC Bookstore.

 

 

Section 1 Lectures – 27 Aug. – 26 Sept. – Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6

Section 2 Lectures – 3 Oct. – 1 Nov. – Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14

Section 3 Lectures – 7 Nov. – 10 Dec – Chapter 15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Marine Mammals - IB 41

Fall,2007

 

Mon., 27 Aug. Introduction to course, course outline and mechanics. Introduction tomarine mammals. What is a mammal?Overview of main groups of marine mammals.

 

Wed., 29 Aug.  Thenature and process of Science.  Overviewof paleontological, ecological, and oceanographic terms and principles used incourse.  Introduction to the basicprinciples of and patterns of extinction and radiation.  Habitats in which marine mammals occur andtheir ecological role in these communities.

 

Mon., 3.  Labor Day Holiday – No Class

 

Wed., 5 Sept.  Overviewof paleontological, ecological, and oceanographic terms and principles used incourse.  Concepts of prey-predatorrelationships, food webs, key-stone species, and resource partitioning.  The divisions and habitats of the oceans,general current patterns, and temperature regimes.

 

Mon., 10 Sept.            Whales.  From what mammalian groups did they originateand when?  What are the specialadaptations for returning to the sea from the land?  Evolution of cetaceans during the last 40million years. 

 

Wed., 12 Sept. Whales.  Present species diversitycompare to past. Biogeography and distributions of living whales includingmigration routes.  Current numbers andstatus of North Pacific species.

 

Mon., 17 Sept.  Sealsand sea lions and walruses.  Introductionto the biology and anatomy of the Pinnipeds. From what mammalian groups didthey originate and when?  What is theirfossil history? What are the special adaptations for returning to the sea fromthe land?

 

Wed., 19 Sept. Seals and sea lions and walruses.  Basic ecology of Pinnipeds. Biogeography anddistributions of living seals and sea lions. Introduction to the Pinnipeds of the North Pacific. Current distributionand status of North Pacific species.

 

Mon., 24 Sept. General anatomy of sea otters. What are their special adaptationsfor  living primarily in the sea?  Evolution of sea otters during the last 5million years. Present species diversity compare to the past.  Distribution of sea otters in the NorthPacific, current numbers and status.

 

Wed., 26 Sept.  Thesirenians.  Review of basic anatomy andbiology. From what mammalian groups did sirenians originate and when?  What are the special adaptations forreturning to the sea from the land? Evolution of dugongs and manatees the last 15 million  years. Present  species diversitycompared to the past.  Biogeography anddistributions of living sirenians.  Theextinction of the Steller's Sea Cow. Current numbers and status of speciesworldwide.

 

Monday 1 Oct.   Midterm I (25% of grade)

 

Wed., 3 Oct.    Cetaceanand Sirenian Reproduction and Development. Reproductive anatomy and cycles ofwhales, sirenians.  Special  modifications in reproduction. Gestation andfetal development.  Birth rates and survivorshipof young marine mammals.  Maternal care,nursing, weaning, adoption.  Maturity anddevelopment of adult characters.

 

Mon., 8 Oct.    Pinnipedand Otter Reproduction and Development. Reproductive anatomy and cycles ofpinnipeds, and sea otters.  Adaptationsfor reproduction on ice in the northern and southern hemispheres. Birth ratesand survivorship of young marine mammals. Maternal care, nursing, weaning, adoption.  Maturity and development of adult characters.Sexual dimorphism: why are the sexes of some species different while others arenot? Longevity, age determination, individual variation.

 

Wed., 10 Oct.  Feedingbiology of marine mammals.  Dietaryspecialization and feeding strategies. Explanation of trophic structures. Theherbivores (sirenians), carnivores (toothed- whales, pinnipeds, and sea otters)and the filter-feeders (baleen whales). Review of the adaptations for these specific types of feeding.  Three basic types of predatory styles. Killerwhales and what they kill; leopard seals and penguins; sperm whales andsquids.  Sharks as predators on bothliving and dead marine mammals.  The roleof predators in marine environments. Overview of parasites.

 

Mon., 15 Oct.  SeaOtters, sea urchins and kelp forests communities. Interactions with othermarine organisms.  Competition forbreeding space with marine birds. Flightless sea bird extinctions and the origination and radiation ofgregarious marine mammals.

 

Wed., 17 Oct.  Marine mammal physiology.  Differencesbetween environmental  and bodytemperatures.  The problems of both lowand high temperatures. Differences in temperature regulation between young andadults.  The role of blubber: compositionand distribution. Pinniped fins as heat regulators. The insulating propertiesof sea otter fur.

 

Mon., 22 Oct.  Socialstructures and organization among marine mammals. Family groups, territorialinteractions and hierarchies. Comparisons of pods of whales with shore breeding seals and sealions.  Differences in habitat requiredifferent social organization and structure. The dominance of "alpha males" and the role of female choicein gregarious pinnipeds aggregations.

 

Wed., 24 Oct. Patterns of distribution, migration, and journeys out to sea.  Whale migratory patterns in the NorthPacific.  Why migrate?  Patterns of population movement, territories,and rookeries.  Where do seals and sealions go when they leave the beaches?  How do marine mammals navigate?

 

Mon., 29 Oct.  DivingPhysiology.  Depths and pressuresexperienced by marine mammals.  Gasesunder pressure.  Why don't marine mammalsget the "bends"?  Heart rateand circulatory changes during dives; bradycardia.

 

Wed., 1 Nov. Sound and communication.  The major types and uses of communication andlanguage, types of communication. Echolocation, who has it and how is it used.Physiology of echolocation, the structures associated with the production andreception of sounds underwater. Echolocation for feeding and communication, the "sonic gun"theory. Anatomical specializations for echolocation.  Can dolphins talk to us?

 

 

Monday, 5 Nov.  Midterm II (25% of Grade)

 

Wed., 7 Nov.  Humansand marine mammals.  Marine mammalsfeatured in art, literature, and entertainment. The role of marine mammals in mythology, religion, and folklore.  Their depiction in paintings andsculpture.  Current uses of marine mammalart by environmentalists (posters, jewelry, sculpture, etc.).  Marine mammals in literature; Moby Dick,Jack London.  Marine mammals andentertainment. Why do we like marine mammals so much?.

 

Mon., 12 Nov.  Veteran’s Day – No Class

 

Wed., 14 Nov.  Subsistencehunting through time, where it occurs today. Eskimos, Aleuts, and Inuits andmarine mammals; species hunted, uses, methods, and cultural values. Theearliest commercial exploitation of whales. The Basques and Bristols, depletionof European whale stocks.  Commercialwhaling in the age of exploration.

 

Mon., 19 Nov. America and the Yankeewhalers.  Whaling as a lifestyle anindustry and whale parts as commercial goods and their uses.  Modern technology and the birth of 20thcentury  mechanized whaling.  Global exploitation and systematic commercialoverharvesting of whales.  The death ofcommercial whaling and changes in practices, exploitation of small cetaceans,"scientific" whaling.

 

Mon., 19 Nov. Extra Credit Report Due forComments (Optional)

 

Wed., 21 Nov. Commercialwhaling and changes in open ocean ecosystems. Did over hunting of whales lead to the demise of pinnipeds and seaotters in the North Pacific Ocean?  Top down vs. bottom up controversy.  Evidence for and data against.

 

Mon., 26 Nov. The fur seal and sea otter trades.  The Russian Fur Company; practices,employment of Aleuts and Inuits.  Therole of Fort Rossas an early  California outpost.  Politics, internationaldemand, and early conservation practices. The causes and consequences of the near extinction of fur seals and seaotters.  The American fur industry.  The Bostonians and competition with theRussian Fur Company. Were there sea otters at the Farallon Islands?    Harvesting the California Channel Island sea otters.  The decimation of the  Guadalupe fur seal population. The fur tradetrade with China.

 

Wed., 28 Nov. Protecting endangered species, preservationand re-introduction. Translocation of sea otters to San  Nicolas Island, CA.  Types of conservation.

 

Mon., 3 Dec. The Exxon Valdez oil spill.  Its impact on sea otter populations.  Rescue, rehabilitation, and research.

 

Wed., 5 Dec. Conservation of marine mammals.  Should there be commercial exploitation?  Populations and pollution; oil spills,mercury, marine mammals as environmental indicators.  Current estimates and distribution of  surviving populations, which species arethreatened? Politics and marine mammals. The Marine Mammal Protection Act. International Whaling Commission;resource management or savaging what's left? 

 

Mon., 10 Dec. Marinemammals in captivity; public display, military and scientific uses. Marinemammal rescue organizations, rehabilitation of injured marine mammals. Currentviews of morality and public awareness. Environmental organizations; GreenPeace "save the whales", but what else should be saved.

 

Friday, 14 Dec 5:00 pm     Extra Credit Report Due

Instructors Mailbox in 3060 VLSB

 

 

 

Wednesday, 19 Dec8:00 - 11:00 a.m.  Final (50% of grade)


 

Guidelines for Extra Credit Field Trip Reports

 

This optional extracredit assignment is intended for those students who are not doing as wellas they wish, and for those who are at the borderline between two grades.  Please follow these suggestions aboutconstructing and writing your report.

 

Reports can be turned in early (Monday, Nov 19th) for helpful hints andcorrections.  Early reports will bereturned with instructor or GSI comments within one week.  The final date for handing in reports is Friday, Dec 14th. 

 

All submitted reports must have a UCBwaiver form on file or they will not be graded.

 

Ø  Thereare a total of 10 points possiblefor this assignment, but we will be grading these carefully, and very fewpeople will the full 10 points.  Expectabout half of the points for a good report.

Ø  Allreports must be typed and double-spaced.  Reports are generally between 2 to 5 pagesdepending on the amount of detail included.

Ø  Onlyone report may be turned in per student, but you may make as manyfield trips as you would like.

Ø  Studentsmay make a trip together, but each must write up and submit their reports independently of one another.

Ø  Spellingand grammar count.  Please spell-check and proof-read assignments before turning them in.  This is the most common reason fordeductions.

Ø  Binoculars help immensely for everytrip, so think about buying or borrowing a pair before you make your trip.  They are the best tool for making gooddetailed observations.

Ø  Youshould spend at least one hour observingthe animals, no matter which trip you decide to take.

Ø  DO NOT DISTURB the animals, get tooclose, or feed them.  These are againstall federal laws which protect these creatures.

Ø  Writethis as a scientific report.  Do not simply restate and answerquestions.  Be objective, critical,coherent, concise, and factual.  Reporton what you see, do not be anthropomorphic, and don’t jump to too manyconclusions about their behaviors. 

Ø  Tryto relate your observations to topicsand themes discussed in lecture. This assignment is supposed to bring our lectures to life.  Anytime your observations remind you ofsomething from lecture, jot it down and be sure to include these ties in yourreport.

Ø  Photos or sketches are an excellent wayto illustrate your point.  If you includesome, you must number each image anddiscuss/describe it in the text ofyour report.  Otherwise, they detractfrom your assignment rather than enhancing it. All photos and sketches are returned to you with your assignment at thefinal exam.

Ø  Plagiarism of any kind will result in agrade of 0.

Ø  Thefinal grades for the course are curved before these extra credit points areadded to your score.

 

Option #1:  The California SeaLions at Pier 39 in San Francisco

 

This is your chance to see dozens (maybe hundreds) ofCalifornia Sea Lions.  This trip is closeto home, accessible by driving or by BART or Muni, and is practicallyfree.  Bring a pair of binoculars, anotebook, and a camera.  This trip isparticularly informative because the Marine Mammal Centeris located upstairs in Pier 39.  TheCenter has excellent displays and their staff is friendly andknowledgeable.  After you are done, enjoya day of shopping and snacks at Pier 39.

 

How to get there:

If you are driving, take the Bay Bridge($3 toll) to S.F., get off at Embarcadero and follow the signs to Fisherman’sWharf.  Pier 39 is just south of it andis well-marked.  Parking is metered orthere is a parking structure which costs a few bucks.  By BART, get off at the Embarcadero stationand take the 42 bus ($1 – get a transfer and your return is free) along theEmbarcadero to Pier 39.  Follow the foulsmell, signs, and steady flow of tourists to the sea lion viewing area.  It is wheelchair accessible. 

 

Write your report as an essay addressing the questionsbelow.  You can choose to focus on aparticular subset of questions as long as you feel you are writing a detailed,informative, and accurate piece.  Themore time you spend watching the animals, the more you will have to writeabout.  Remember that it is illegal to feed, harass, and throw things at thesea lions. 

 

  1. What is the scientific name of this species?  Remember that genus and species names must be underlined or in italics.
  2. How many sea lions are present?  How many sea lions of different sizes are present?  Do you think there is any significance of animal size?  If so, explain.
  3. How are the sea lions arranged?  How are the different sized sea lions distributed over the docks?  Give a detailed description of which sea lions are where, sketch the arrangement of the sea lions, or attach and describe a photo of the scene.  Do you think there is any significance to the arrangement of the sea lions?  If so, explain.
  4. Which docks are occupied?  Which docks are empty?  Give some suggestions to explain this distribution.
  5. Describe what the sea lions look like.  Do different sized sea lions look different?  If so, how?  Do different aged sea lions look different?  If so, how?  What group of marine mammals are you observing (i.e. phocids, otariids, odobenids, sea otters, etc.)?  What physical features of the sea lions allow you to make the identification?
  6. What sex are the sea lions?  Can you tell?  If so, explain what evidence you used.
  7. What condition are the sea lions in?  Do they appear healthy?  Describe any sick or hurt sea lions you see.  If you see a sick or hurt animal, can you tell how it became sick or hurt? 
  8. Describe the animal’s coats.  What color are they?  Are they all the same color?  What might cause color differences?  Are their coats patchy?  What might cause coat patchiness?
  9. Describe the sounds that the sea lions make.  Do different sized sea lions make different sounds?  Which sea lions are the most vocal?  Why might these sea lions be vocalizing?  What might they be trying to communicate (either to the other sea lions or to their human observers)?
  10. Sit back for a while and observe the interactions between the sea lions.  Describe what the sea lions are doing.  How do they treat each other?  Is there any fighting?  If so, describe the fight (what led up to it, its outcome).  How do sea lions of different sizes interact with each other?
  11. How comfortable do the sea lions seem with each other on the docks?  How is their behavior the same or different when they are in the water?  How is their movement different on the docks vs in the water?  Estimate how long the animals stay under water when they dive.
  12. Are there any interactions between the sea lions and other animals such seabirds?  If so, describe these interactions.  If not, explain why there might not be a lot of interaction.
  13. Finally, speculate on why these sea lions are here.  Is this a good place for them?  How are they treated by their human observers?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

Option #2:  The Harbor Seals at the Russian Riverin Sonoma County

 

This trip takes you to the mouth of the Russian River, justnorth of Bodega Bay and near the idyllic town of Jenner to see harbor seals,some of the cutest pinnipeds.  It is agreat excursion for a weekend afternoon or a whole weekend.  Jenner and Bodega Bayhave great resorts and bed and breakfasts (check online).  You can turn this into a family outing or aromantic getaway.  Bring a pair ofbinoculars, a notebook, rugged shoes for climbing, a map, a snack, a warm coat,and a camera.

 

How to get there(total driving time about 1.5 hours eachway):

From San Francisco, take101 north.  From the east bay, take I-80 east to 580 to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge ($2 toll) to 101north.  Take 101 north to Petaluma, exit at E. Washington Streetand turn left at the stoplight.  Thiswinds its way through Petalumaand becomes a country road.  BodegaAvenue becomes Valley Ford Roadand then becomes Hwy 1 north.  Take Hwy 1north through the town of Bodega Bay (whereAlfred Hitchcock’s classic “The Birds” was filmed) to the town of Jenner.  The mouth of the Russian Riverwill be on your left just past Jenner. You can park on a turnout.  Be careful!  The road can be dangerous and the cliffs aresteep!  You can climb down to the beach,but use only reliable paths and trails (they are steep and there are many looserocks).  If you go down to the beach, keep your distance from the seals.  It is against Federal law to get too close orto disturb them.

 

Write your report as an essay addressing the questionsbelow.  You can choose to focus on aparticular subset of questions as long as you feel you are writing a detailed,informative, and accurate piece.  Themore time you spend watching the animals, the more you will have to writeabout. 

 

  1. What is the scientific name of this species?  Remember that genus and species names must be underlined or in italics.
  2. How many harbor seals are present?  How many harbor seals of different sizes are present?  Do you think there is any significance of animal size?  If so, explain.
  3. How are the harbor seals arranged?  How are the different sized harbor seals arranged?  Give a detailed description of which harbor seals are where, sketch the arrangement of the harbor seals, or attach and describe a photo of the scene.  Do you think there is any significance to the arrangement of the harbor seals?  If so, explain.
  4. How are the harbor seals arranged with respect to the shoreline?  Are particular sized animals closer to the shore or further from the shore?  Suggest a reason explaining what you observe.
  5. Describe (optional sketch or photo) what the harbor seals look like.  Do different sized harbor seals look different?  If so, how?  Do different aged harbor seals look different?  If so, how?  What group of marine mammals are you observing (i.e. phocids, otariids, odobenids, sea otters, etc.)?  What physical features of the harbor seals allow you to make the identification?
  6. What condition are the harbor seals in?  Do they appear healthy?  Describe any sick or hurt harbor seals you see.  If you see a sick or hurt animal, can you tell how it became sick or hurt? 
  7. What sex are the harbor seals?  Can you tell?  If so, explain what evidence you used.  Can you tell males from females or juveniles from adults?  If so, how.  If not, why not?
  8. Describe the animal’s coats.  What color are they?  Are they all the same color?  What might cause color differences?  Are their coats patchy?  If so, what might cause coat patchiness?
  9. Describe any sounds that the harbor seals make.  Do different sized harbor seals make different sounds?  Which harbor seals are the most vocal?  Why might these harbor seals be vocalizing?  What might they be trying to communicate (either to the other harbor seals or to their human observers)?
  10. Sit back for a while and observe the interactions between the harbor seals.  Describe what the harbor seals are doing.  How do they treat each other?  Is there any fighting?  If so, describe the fight (what led up to it, its outcome). 
  11. Is there any difference in behavior between large and small harbor seals?  If so, describe these differences.  Is there any difference between the movement or behavior of seals on land vs in the water?  Estimate how long the animals stay under water when they dive.
  12. Finally, speculate on why the harbor seals are here.  What might be the benefits for them?  What might be the dangers?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Option #3:  The Elephant Seals at Aňo Nuevo Reservenear Santa Cruz

 

This trip takes you to Aňo Nuevo Reserve on the centralCalifornia coast between HalfMoon Bayand Santa Cruz.  At Aňo Nuevo you may see California sea lions,harbor seals, and perhaps even a sea otter. However, the main attraction is Elephant Seals.  This is a great trip for a weekend afternoonor a family outing.  Bring a picnic forfun.  Bring a pair of binoculars, anotebook, rugged shoes for climbing, a map, a snack, a warm coat, and a camera.

 

How to get there(total driving time about 1.5 hours eachway):

From Berkeley,take 880 south to Hayward and then take Hwy 92across the San Mateo Bridge ($2 toll) to Foster City. Stay on Hwy 92 over the coast range and you will arrive in Half Moon Baywhere Hwy 92 intersects Hwy 1.  Turn leftonto Hwy southbound and continue for about 25 miles.  Near the Santa Cruz-San Mateo county border, Aňo Nuevo State parkwill be on your right.  If you passWaddle Creek, you have gone too far. There is a small parking lot which sometimes charges a fee.  The park is staffed by state rangers andthere are also interns from UC Santa Cruz who can provide information about themarine mammals and how to observe them. The walk to the point is about 1 mile and consists of paved and/or well-maintainedtrails. 

As you near the beach, stay on the marked paths and keep your distance.  It is against Federal law to get too close orto disturb the elephant seals. 

 

Write your report as an essay addressing the questionsbelow.  You can choose to focus on aparticular subset of questions as long as you feel you are writing a detailed,informative, and accurate piece.  Themore time you spend watching the animals, the more you will have to writeabout. 

 

  1. What is the scientific name of this species?  Remember that genus and species names must be underlined or in italics.
  2. How many elephant seals are present?  How many elephant seals of different sizes are present?  Do you think there is any significance of animal size?  If so, explain.
  3. How are the elephant seals arranged?  How are the different sized elephant seals arranged?  Give a detailed description of which elephant seals are where, sketch the arrangement of the elephant seals, or attach and describe a photo of the scene.  Do you think there is any significance to the arrangement of the elephant seals?  If so, explain.
  4. How are the elephant seals arranged with respect to the shoreline?  Are particular sized animals closer to the shore or further from the shore?  Suggest a reason explaining what you observe.
  5. Describe (optional sketch or photo) what the elephant seals look like.  Do different sized elephant seals look different?  If so, how?  Do different aged elephant seals look different?  If so, how?  What group of marine mammals are you observing (i.e. phocids, otariids, odobenids, sea otters, etc.)?  What physical features of the elephant seals allow you to make the identification?
  6. What condition are the elephant seals in?  Do they appear healthy?  Describe any sick or hurt elephant seals you see.  If you see a sick or hurt animal, can you tell how it became sick or hurt? 
  7. What sex are the elephant seals?  Can you tell?  If so, explain what evidence you used.  Can you tell males from females or juveniles from adults?  If so, how.  If not, why not?
  8. Describe the animal’s coats.  What color are they?  Are they all the same color?  What might cause color differences?  Are their coats patchy?  If so what might cause coat patchiness?
  9. Describe any sounds that the elephant seals make.  Do different sized elephant seals make different sounds?  Which elephant seals are the most vocal?  Why might these elephant seals be vocalizing?  What might they be trying to communicate (either to the other elephant seals or to their human observers)?
  10. Sit back for a while and observe the interactions between the elephant seals.  Describe what the elephant seals are doing.  How do they treat each other?  Is there any fighting?  If so, describe the fight (what led up to it, its outcome). 
  11. Is there any difference in behavior between large and small elephant seals?  If so, describe these differences.  Is there any difference between the movement or behavior of seals on land vs in the water?  Estimate how long the animals stay under water when they dive.
  12. Are there any interactions between the elephant seals and other animals such seabirds?  If so, describe these interactions.  If not, explain why there might not be a lot of interaction.
  13. Finally, speculate on why the elephant seals are here.  What might be the benefits for them?  What might be the dangers?

 

 

 

 

 

 

     
Option #4:  The Marine Mammals of Monterey Bay

 

This trip gives you a chance to see California sea lions, harbor seals, and seaotters.  The trip should take a wholeday, so plan accordingly.  There is asteep fee for the Monterey BayAquarium ($17.95 for adults, $14.95 with a student ID).  However, Cannery Row is a fun area withplenty of food and stores to keep you entertained after your scientificobservations.  Bring a pair ofbinoculars, a notebook, a map, a snack, a warm coat, a camera, and lots of money.

 

How to get there(total driving time about 2 hours eachway):

From the east bay,take 880 south to Hwy 17 south (to Santa Cruz), then take Hwy 1 south.  FromSan Francisco, take Hwy 1 south the whole way (very slow) or take 101 southto 880 south to 17 south to Hwy 1 south. On Hwy 1 south, take the Del Monte exit and travel south.  Your first stop is the Coast Guard Wharf(west of Fisherman’s Wharf).  There areusually Californiasea lions here.  Spend time observingthem and taking notes.  Continue on Del Monte Roaduntil it becomes Cannery Row Road.  You can stop at the Monterey Bay Aquarium ifyou’d like (and you can afford it) for close-up observations of sea otters inthe Aquarium’s tanks.  The Aquarium alsohas an excellent outdoor deck for observing harbor seals in the wild.  Otherwise, continue on Cannery Row until itturns into Ocean View Blvd.  Take this to Lover’s Point (near Stanford’sHopkins Marine Lab).  This is a nice areato view harbor seals hauled out on the rocks or shore.  There should also be sea otters swimming inthe kelp beds. 

 

Write your report as an essay addressing the questionsbelow.  You can choose to focus on aparticular subset of questions as long as you feel you are writing a detailed,informative, and accurate piece.  Themore time you spend watching the animals, the more you will have to writeabout.  Since there are many differentmarine mammals in Monterey Bay, you can choose to focus your report only on one species(for instance sea otters) or you can doan abbreviated report on each species. You can also choose to compare the animals by addressing the same subsetof questions for all the species you see.

 

  1. For each species, what is its scientific name?  Remember that genus and species names must be underlined or in italics.
  2. For each location or species, how many animals are present?  How many animals of different sizes are present?  Do you think there is any significance of animal size?  If so, explain.
  3. How are the animals arranged?  How are the different sized animals arranged?  Give a detailed description of which animals are where, sketch the arrangement of the animals, or attach and describe a photo of the scene.  Do you think there is any significance to the arrangement of the animals?  If so, explain.
  4. Describe (optional sketch or photo) what the animals look like.  Do different sized animals look different?  If so, how?  Do different aged animals look different?  If so, how?  What group of marine mammals are you observing (i.e. phocids, otariids, odobenids, sea otters, etc.)?  What physical features of the animals allow you to make the identification?
  5. What condition are the animals in?  Do they appear healthy?  Describe any sick or hurt animals you see.  If you see a sick or hurt animal, can you tell how it became sick or hurt? 
  6. What sex are the animals?  Can you tell?  If so, explain what evidence you used.  Can you tell males from females or juveniles from adults?  If so, how.  If not, why not?
  7. Describe the sounds that the animals make.  Do different sized animals make different sounds?  Which animals are the most vocal?  Why might these animals be vocalizing?  What might they be trying to communicate (either to the other animals or to their human observers)?
  8. Sit back for a while and observe the interactions between the animals.  Describe what the animals are doing.  How do they treat each other?  Is there any fighting?  If so, describe the fight (what led up to it, its outcome). 
  9. Is there any difference in behavior between large and small animals?  If so, describe these differences.  Is there any difference between the movement or behavior of animals on land vs in the water?  Estimate how long the animals stay under water when they dive.
  10. If you choose to observe the sea otters in the aquarium, how do the animals spend their time?  What do they eat?  How is this different from what they would eat in the wild?  Why is their food different?  How are sea otters different from river otters?