Question

Gray whales feed heavily on small crustaceans in the sediments of coastal Alaska for several months of the summer. These feeding grounds are covered by sea-ice during the winter. In the fall, whales migrate to Baja California where they give birth in warm, shallow lagoons. Adult whales do not feed during the migration or the reproductive period in Baja California.

            a. Compare the energy budget of a female adult gray whale on the feeding grounds in Alaska, during the migration, and during the time period when she is nursing her baby. What are the major energy demands and the sources of fuel for her metabolism in each of these stages?

            b. Explain whether you expect a difference in the oxygen consumption rates of a male and female (with calf) gray whale during their stay in Baja California.

            c. What might be some of the advantages of giving birth in a warm, relatively shallow lagoon? How would these off-set the disadvantage of not having a steady food source?

Answer 1