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Marion Island is the only location in the world where fur seals (Arctocephalus spp.) pursue and kill penguins as large as King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) on land - NSC Marine Sciences - Question 5 - 2024 - Paper 2
Question 5
Marion Island is the only location in the world where fur seals (Arctocephalus spp.) pursue and kill penguins as large as King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) on ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Marion Island is the only location in the world where fur seals (Arctocephalus spp.) pursue and kill penguins as large as King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) on land - NSC Marine Sciences - Question 5 - 2024 - Paper 2
Step 1
The feeding behaviour of seals on Marion Island is unique. Describe how fur seals generally hunt.
Answer
Fur seals typically hunt in the ocean, utilizing their agile bodies and hydrodynamic shape to pursue prey. They use their flippers to propel themselves through the water, enabling them to catch fast-moving fish. These seals can dive deep and swim for extended periods, allowing them to effectively chase down their prey.
Step 2
Explain why it is easier for seals to catch penguins on land.
Answer
Seals are generally faster and more agile on land than penguins, which are slower and have limited mobility outside the water. Penguins have short legs and waddle, making them less capable of escaping from the seals. Additionally, seals can leverage their strength to overpower penguins, giving them an advantage in this predation scenario.
Step 3
Describe how the penguins would have hunted the fish that the seals obtain from the penguins' stomachs.
Answer
Penguins primarily hunt fish through swimming and diving. They are adept at using their streamlined bodies to chase and catch fish underwater. Their hunting strategy involves using their vision to target specific schools of fish, often diving deep to reach their prey. The fish consumed by penguins are then digested, with remnants of the meal potentially available to seals that capture them.
Step 4
Discuss the sense organs of the seals that the penguins could damage while defending themselves AND how this may affect the seals' ability to hunt.
Answer
Seals rely heavily on their sensory organs, including whiskers and eyes, to hunt effectively. Whiskers help them detect vibrations in the water and can guide their movements, especially in murky conditions. Their eyes are adapted for underwater vision, allowing them to see prey. Damage to these sensory organs inflicted by penguins during a struggle can severely hinder a seal's ability to track and catch prey, ultimately jeopardizing their survival.
Step 5
Give your opinion on why these seals have started hunting penguins on land.
Answer
A potential reason why seals have begun hunting penguins on land is due to depletion of fish in their ocean habitat, which may compel them to seek alternative food sources. Overfishing and environmental changes could lead to a decrease in available food in the ocean, prompting seals to adapt their hunting strategies and target penguins instead as an easier source of nutrition on land.