Much of the requested information can also be located at the following links.
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m1200/19_156/57828404/p1/article.jhtml
http://www.aquatic.uoguelph.ca/mammals/whales/accounts/grey.htm
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/eschrichtius/e._robustus$narrative.html
http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/graywhl.htm
http://www.slocoe.org/ go to resources then California Gray Whale Tutorial
WHALE WATCHING LAB - Read over this sheet. Answer all questions in the section called “GENERAL INFORMATION” prior to the field trip on a separate typed sheet. I will grade this section before the field trip. Also I will want to see your blank observation chart, with its headings before you go.
Clothing: Pay attention to what the weather has been on the days preceding our field trip. Sue Mills tops but you can wear jeans/ non sue mills shorts. Use good judgment. Have warm outerwear available, even on a sunny day the wind can be very cold out on the ocean. Wear sneakers or other rubber soled shoes, the deck can be slippery.
Equipment: Binoculars, watch,sunscreen, this sheet, notebook, something to write with and a camera if you want to take any pictures.
Lunch: School lunch will be provided when we get off of the boat and we will either picnic down there, or when we come back. If you just can’t wait until 12 ish, bring money, there is a snack bar on board.
Seasickness: If you are concerned about it, buy some “over the counter” medication for motion sickness. Read and follow the directions. Usually a light breakfast, low in fat will also be helpful. If you are feeling queasy on board, move towards the front and keep your eyes on the horizon. Also a damp cloth/towel on your face/neck might be helpful.
Behavior: Don’t run on the boat! Listen and follow all directions from the crew and from your teacher. Be considerate of each other and other paying passengers.
Wednesday February 1, 2006 at 8:50 am. We will meet in the small faculty parking lot. Don’t be late. Buses leave whether or not you do. We will back for 7th period.
GENERAL INFORMATION -
Remember this data is due before we go. These will be homework points. Typed, complete sentences that reflect the question. Remember to cite the handout page # on where you find your answer.
Read all handouts and use the library/ internet/ encyclopedias/? Just find it:
I suggest you use the GIANT globe found in the Library and a string (I will pass out string). Remember these whales stay very close to the coastline. They do swim. (hint: don’t measure across land!) Measure with your string then use the “distance scale” on the globe.
Here are the metric and their English conversions.
1 mile=1.61 kilometers, 1 kilometer = .6 mile (I mile = .86 nautical mile)
3 feet = 1 yard = .92 meters,
1 meter = 3.3 feet.
Give distances in both kilometers and miles. Set up the proportions, cross multiply and divide.
1. Using a coastal ocean route, how far is San Diego from the Gulf of Alaska?
2. Using a coastal ocean route, how far is San Diego from Pt. Hope/Chukchi Sea (just norlth of Pt. Hope in the Bering Strait) ? Assume they travel through Unimak Pass of the Aleutan Island chain.
3. Using a coastal ocean route, how far is San Diego from the Baja California Saint Ignacio
(S. Ignacio) calving lagoon?
4. How many blow holes do the Gray whales have?
5. What are the white/gray “bumps” all over their bodies?
6. Describe how, where and what these whales feed on.
7. When and how do they “know” to leave the Alaskan waters?
8. Why do they migrate south? Why do they migrate north?
9. What are some ideas about how they might find their way?
10. When do the whales generally leave the Baja calving lagoons?
11. Regarding the southern California coastal waters, do they return to their northern feeding areas using the same southern route, just reversed? If not, how is it different?
12. How many calves are typically born each season to one mother?
13. How old are the calves when they are weaned?
14. What are the main taxons(Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Suborder, Family, Genus and Species) for these whales? Remember the scientific name of an organisim is the genus and species.The other sub order in their order, is called Odontoceti how are odontoceti different from the gray whale’s sub order? What is an example of an odontoceti?
15. What is a “pod”?
16. What was the pre-1857 estimated population numbers?
17. Why were the modern (1857) and later whalers hunting the gray whale, what did society use the whale products for?
18. What was the estimated population numbers by 1898? Regarding a species: Define extinction and endangered.
19. According to your handouts; in the early 1900’s the demand for whale products had dropped, why do you think thas was the case?
20. What 1920’s technological improvement or development allowed whalers to once again make a profit even though the price for whale products was still low?
21. What year were the whales granted international protection and what effect did that have on their population numbers?
22. What were the estimated gray whale population numbers for the decade 1991-2000?
23. What is meant by the term “carrying capacity” in regards to an ecosystem? How do your numbers in #22 compare with your answer to #16? What do you think has kept these numbers from ever climbing above 20,000-25,000?
24. How many pounds (lbs.) to a standard ton? Jane Doe, a new ninth grader, is 5 feet tall and 100 pounds, the estimated maximum weight and length for E. robustus is 50 feet and 45 tons. How many times longer is E. robustus than Jane? How many times heavier is E. robustus than Jane? How tall would Jane have to be, to weigh 45 tons? Why do you think whales can be so heavy relative to their lengths and still move so easily??????????
25. Approximately how many millions of years ago did the whales evolve from land mammals into marine mammals?
26. Extra credit: The group of ancient mammals, from which whales evolved, also evolved into what current terrestrial mammal. This information is found in your suggested Internet links (hint it is one of the fiirst three lnks).
For your Lab Write up:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION - The following data needs to be in the typed lab report.:
Purpose-
Procedure-
Give the following in your DATA section:
Date, time of day, weather conditions: air and water temperature (F), estimated amount of cloud cover, wind direction and speed, swell direction and size (Look at that day’s weather page). Exact location of departure, look up in phone book for address. We are going to Seaforth Sport Fishing in Mission Bay.
Observation chart (DATA section):
Construct the chart it should be at least one full page and have at least these following headings included. Be sure the final chart is neat, complete and organized in such a manner that the requested information is clearly presented. Add others if you feel they might be helpful.
SIGHTINGS- Don’t get so caught up in the observations that you forget to record your data? Look at your watches, the shoreline and your map.
Nine mandatory headings:
1)Time of any sightings, 2)number of animals in the pod (all of the following headings should reflect the actual number in individuals in the pod), 3)coloration, 4) approximate length, 5) approximate weight (The length of the boat is 85 feet/26 meters use that as a comparison), using the following maximum length for E. robustus of 50 feet and a maximum weight of 45 tons, set up a proportion to estimate the weight of your observed whales. If the individual you see is estimated to be 40 feet you can estimate its weight. 50 feet/40 feet = 45 tons/X tons; cross multiply and divide. If you continue to observe the same whale/s then the estimated length and weight should also be the same 6) Estimated distance from whales. 7) Number of breaths at surface before longer dive. 8) Total elapsed time breathing at the surface (usually will take 4-5 breaths before extended dive). 9)Total elapsed time during the longer dives.
Analysis questions-
1. What sort of behaviors and swimming patterns did you observe?
2. How long did you follow the pod/whale for?
3. Did the pod/whale change its direction while the boat was following it? If so, why do you think it did?
4. What body parts( look up the names for their different appendages) were used to swim and how were they used?
5. What is meant by a “footprint”?
6. Were any other marine mammals (sea lions, seals, dolphins? observed, give time of observation, describe numbers, colors, lengths and behaviors.
7. Using your handouts or other research, describe two or three other gray whale behaviors typically displayed on this migration.
Also include in your lab report:
TOUR - draw our boat’s route on the included map of San Diego. This map is to be part of your report. If the shore is on the boat’s right (starboard) side you are heading north. Mark on your map the location and the time of departure and return. Give the approximate location where whales were observed and time of sightings. Be sure that your data in observation chart and the map’s times agree!
CONCLUSION -
POSSIBLE SOURCES OF ERROR-