BLUE WHALE
(Balaenoptera musculus)
An Endadgered Species
What does a Blue Whale look like?
-The Blue Whale is the largest animal that has lived, weighing in at 150-170 tons and at a length of 89-98 feet!
- Their bodies consist of a blueish-grey spectrum with white spots give the whale a dark blue color under water.
- Most of the specie have a wrinkly texture of the skin.
-Blue whales have a long-body and comparatively slender shape
Habitat of the Blue Whale
-Blue whales are found in every ocean, ranging from the equator to the ice edges in the North and South poles.
- The species is often found in coastal waters, blue whales are thought to occur generally more offshore than other whales.
-Blue whales in the Northern Hemisphere are generally smaller than those in the Southern Ocean.
Shown above is the migration pattern of most Blue Whales.
Role 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.
-A Blue Whale for example can consume as much as 40 million krill per day so you can imagine the impact this would have on stabilizing the aquatic ecosystem if the blue whale species were to become extinct.
-Blue Whales are omnivores. Filtering out the food they catch.
SAVE
BLUE
WHALES!
Threats
THREATS:
-Blue Whales are threatened by environmental change including habitat loss and toxics.
- Can also be harmed by ship strikes and by becoming entangled in fishing gear.
SOLUTIONS:
-WWF is using satellite tags to see what specific routes are used by the whales and which areas are used the most often. This information will help inform decisions about protected areas, to prevent interactions between whales and salmon farms or wild-caught fisheries.
- In my opinion they are doing all they can do for the whale, although the whales continue to need our help. We must help!
SAVE THE WHALES!
Created by: Austin Blicharz
3/4/14
3rd Block