Whales Research Papers Samples For Students

Endangered Species Research Project – Blue Whale

Physical description
Blue Whale “ Balaenoptera Musculus”, is the largest animal inhabiting earth and it can weigh up to 330,000 pounds (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Organization [NOAA] Fisheries). It is an aquatic mammal, with spinal cord, that belongs to the order Mysticeti i.e. it lacks teeth, and posses flexible comb like structure called baleen in the jaws, to filter and feed on small fishes and plankton from water (Osis, Synder, Gross, Haslie and Bradhurst, 7). Blue whales have a streamlined body with horizontal tail fins called flukes, a broad snout or rostrum, and paddle like limbs in front called flippers ( ...

Introduction

Unlike what is suggested by its name, the long-finned pilot whale, known by the scientific name: Globicephala melas, is not really a whale but belongs to the family of dolphins. It is classified under the order Cetacea (cetaceans, whales), the suborder Odontoceti (suborder of toothed whales) and the family Delphinidea (dolphins). This species is classified under “Data Deficient (DD)” and on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list (Dolphin Fund, 2011). This species is mostly threatened by the activities of man but other threats such as diseases and ingestion of heavy metals exist. Usually, the long-finned ...

Introduction

Simply put, sonar is the use of an echo. This involves the use of sound navigation and ranging techniques for the propagation of sound underwater, with the overall intention of navigating, communicating or detecting objects that are in or on water surface. Specialized machines and sea creatures such as whales have the ability to use reflect waves for sensing shape and movement of objects and for locating these distant objects. Because there are different ranges of frequencies for sonar, there are low-frequency, mid-frequency and high-frequency sonar. Like any other use of technology or technological enhancement, sonar testing has its ...

English 90/101

Dr. J. Lucas

Navy Sonar Testing Vs. Marine Life

Sonar is an artificial form of echolocation, which involves the use of sound navigation and ranging techniques for the propagation of sound underwater. This technology is used for navigating, communicating or detecting objects that are under or above the water surface. Specialized sea creatures such as whales and dolphins have the ability to use sound reflected from waves for sensing and locating distant objects or prey, this is called echolocation. Bats also use the same technique to navigate in the dark. Humans also use echolocation through sonar technology in ships and submarines to avoid icebergs, locate ...

Scientists, the world over, have a common belief that over 90% of earth’s species have become extinct over the last three billion years that the planet has supported life . It is estimated that there have been at least five mass extinctions spread over millions of years at a time. The latest known mass extinction was towards the end of the Cretaceous period. It is most likely so well known because, the event which occurred over 65 million years ago, caused the end of the dinosaurs. Although in terms of the scale it was smaller than the previous four, ...

Introduction

Climate change is among the significant factors impacting ecological diversity on a worldwide scale. The growth of industries and the increasing human population globally have resulted in a rise in the volume of greenhouse gasses, which scientists have argued are the greatest contributors to the menace. The Florida Keys is one of the ecological treasures of the U.S. that continues to be impacted negatively by climate change and anthropogenic activities. This ecological treasure, which is located at the tip of the state of Florida, comprises about 1,700 islands that stretch for more than 200 miles to the west ...

Introduction3

Statistics.3
Offshore oil drilling4
Effects on the environment.7
Recommended solutions10
Conclusion.13

Works Cited14

Abstract
Today, the United States has over 5600 offshore gas and oil platforms; there are also over 27,000 miles of pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico area alone. This shows the extent to which offshore oil drilling occurs in the United States. In other developed parts of the world, the situation is the same. Oil is a product on high demand; this facilitates efforts in extracting it form its deposits deep in the sea floor. The retrieval requires the use of sophisticated equipment ...

As of this moment, animals’ being kept in captivity is a habitual practice for most world countries. The state of affairs in wild nature is such that humanity has already come as near as could be to almost completely exterminating separate species, with natural habitats being either fragmented or destroyed in the aftermath of human encroachment. In order for rare wild animals that are on the point of becoming extinct to be saved they are placed in sanctuaries, zoos, and theme parks where they are put on display. Theme parks are thematic entertainment places like Safari Park in San Diego, ...

The General Assembly of the United Nations has stated that “Changes to the climate, brought about by increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, will thus lead to changes in the oceans, including sea-level rise and ocean acidification, which will put marine ecosystems and coastal communities at risk. Most of these changes can be attributed to human activities and will negatively affect the animal inhabitants of the marine environment. Some effects of global warming on marine animals include changes in distribution, reduction of habitats and reductions in diversity and sex ratios.
In the last hundred years, the rate ...

Point Lobos is an area in Monterey County, California, which encompasses Point Lobos Natural Reserve, Point Lobos State Marine Reserve, and Point Lobos State Marine Conservation Area (). It is currently used as a marine protected area, a recreational scuba diving destination, and for hiking by tourists, but the area has a long cultural history. The coastal area was inhabited by tribes of indigenous people that are known collectively as the Ohlone, who lived in the area until the first European explorers arrived in 1602 (). Since then, Point Lobos has been inhabited by a number of different people until it ...

Impact of Benjamin Franklin's Charts of the Golf Stream on the Shipping Industry

The Gulf Stream is a gigantic river that flows inside ocean from the Mexican Gulf, passing through Florida Peninsula, the East Coast and to Cape Hatteras. The current flows into the Iceland, British Isles, and to Norway. Viewed from the Straits of Florida, the stream has a width of approximately forty miles. Its speed can go as high as five miles per hour. As the Current flows into North Atlantic, the width widens and can increase to up to hundreds of miles at some points (Richardson 51). The amount of water carried by the Gulf Stream is more than ...

The preferred vacation spot is California State in the United States of America. This state has a large variety of tourist attraction sites which would be intriguing to watch. California boasts of diverse simulated attractions, spectacular landscapes and natural playgrounds that have a universal reputation. As a result, California continues to create a center of attraction to the majority of visitors drawn from all parts of the world. To begin with, the Redwood National Park of California that provides tourists with a range of open-air activities to undertake while in the state. The park presents vast woodlands with rivers and an unending magnificent coastline ...

The Valdez Oil Spill and the Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill

Exxon Valdez was an oil tanker ship that measured 987 feet, this tanker had an oil spill on 24th of March 1989 in Prince William Sound of Alaska. This oil spill, at that time was deemed “the most devastating human caused accident, which shook every pillar of the environmental ecosystem.” (Raunekk and Swagatam, 2010). Another oil spill occurred in recent future events that cause devastating damage to the environment, on the 20th of April 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig had an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Oil spills according to Sevhoo (2013), are caused, at least ...

Introduction

Throughout the whole Colonial History of American, there were a total of 13 settlements, which the Europeans called colonies (Reich, 2011). Technically, people who live in different colonies have different lifestyles and one factor that contributed to this is each region’s geography and access to natural resources.
One of the important functions of Colonies is to provide the raw materials and other things that are needed in waging war and improving the economic and financial stability of a mother country or state. In Britain’s case for example, their American colonies are supposed to supplement Britain in their other ...