Polar Bears
Rather than chasing prey over long distances, polar bears often rely on this energy-efficient hunting method
a) ambush hunting
b) pack hunting
c) scavenging
a) ambush hunting
What is unique about the sirenian diet compared to other marine mammals?
strictly herbivores (also accept grazers)
a) ice loss
b) inability to swim long distances
c) reduced land time
a) ice loss
What is one reason why marine mammal monitoring is important?
a) it's not
b) it reflects ocean health
c) it connects us with the animals
b) it reflects ocean health
A type of disease that is becoming more common in marine mammals due to rising ocean temperatures and other environmental changes is called
a) genetic disease
b) chronic disease
c) emerging disease
d) nutritional deficiency
c) emerging disease
With declining sea ice, polar bears are increasingly observed using this hunting strategy on land rather than their typical seal hunting
a) digging for clams
b) eating bird eggs and scavenging carcasses
c) hunting in packs
b) eating bird eggs ad scavenging carcasses
What characterizes the environments in which sirenians are found?
warm, coastal, shallow and calm environments
How does ocean warming disrupt sirenians?
a) visibility
b) less seagrass
c) more seagrass
b) less seagrass
How can populations of marine mammals be studied over time?
a) 3d tracking
b) population surveys
c) headcounts
b) population surveys
Which environmental factor weakens the immune systems of both polar bears and sirenians, making them more prone to diseases?
a) increased predation
b) environmental stress/climate change stress
c) overfishing
d) ocean currents
b) environmental stress/climate change stress
Earlier seasonal melting of sea ice most directly disrupts polar bears by shortening the time available for them to do this critical activity.
a) mate
b) hunt seals
c) build dens
b) hunt seals
What is the largest threat to sirenians?
a) entanglement
b) cold stress syndrome
c) vessel strikes
c) vessel strikes
How does climate change impact sirenians?
a) a shift to different feeding grounds
b) increased birth rates
c) a shift to colder waters
a) a shift to different feeding grounds
What do researchers do to monitor individual and group well-being?
a) health assessment
b) active sonar
c) satellite detection
a) health assessment
What habitat loss in sirenian communities reduces their food supply and makes them more susceptible to diseases?
a) coral bleaching
b) ice sheet melting
c) mangrove deforestation
d) habitat degradation/seagrass loss
d) habitat degradation/seagrass loss
As polar bears spend more time on land, increased encounters with humans and other bears can lead to higher rates of this ecological interaction.
a) mutualism
b) competition
c) parasitism
b) competition
How does climate change significantly impact sirenian habitats?
a) exposes sirenians to cold water environments
b) seagrass loss in habitats
c) displacement due to severe storms
b) seagrass loss in habitats
How does climate change impact the fitness of polar bears?
a) increased hunting
b) increased survival
c) increased energetic costs
c) increased energetic costs
What is NOT a biomarker for polar bears?
a) hair cortisol concentration
b) blood lipid panels
c) external environmental data
c) external environmental data
What method, along with biomarker and health assessments, is used by scientists to track health, disease, and overall population levels in marine mammals?
a) satellite imaging
b) biological monitoring
c) genetic engineering
d) water filtration testing
b) biological monitoring
Declines in polar bear body condition due to sea ice loss are most directly linked to reduced access to this physiological resource needed for survival and reproduction.
a) protein intake
b) lipid (fat) reserves
c) calcium stores
b) lipid (fat) reserves
How do dugongs and manatees differ?
tail shape, nostril position, nails on flippers, whiskers (or lack of), eyesight
What climate change impact directly affects both sirenians and polar bears?
a) increased algal blooms
b) less sea ice
c) disruptions in food webs
c) disruptions in food webs
What do researchers use to monitor sirenians and polar bears?
a) infrared cameras
b) satellite tracking
c) radio collars
b) satellite tracking
Which concept explains why climate change increases disease outbreaks by weakening immune systems and increasing the likelihood of infections?
a) natural selection
b) ocean acidification
c) increased disease susceptibility due to environmental stressors
d) predator-prey imbalance
c) increased disease susceptibility due to environmental stressors