The Whale Museum

• News Updates

• News Archives

• Return to Museum's Home Page

The Whale Museum News

Updated: August 6, 2008


"New" Killer Whale Types at Risk From Antarctic Warming

John Roach

for National Geographic News


Two newly identified types of killer whales that hunt prey off of Antarctic sea ice risk losing food sources to global warming and melting, according to a new study on the whales' movement patterns.

The study reveals that killer whales that feed primarily on fish that congregate under ice shelves are more or less "homebodies," sticking close to the ice, whereas seal-eating killer whales wander wide and seemingly aimlessly.

The differences in movement patterns likely correlate to differences in the whales' foraging strategies and how they interact with their prey, according to the study.

For example, fish-eating whales can stay local because the main anti-predator strategy of fish is to bunch up into schools, often under the ice shelves, according to researchers. On the other hand, the seal-eating whales chase prey with a wider range, as seals wash off of ice floes and travel farther.

Visit National Geographic News to read the rest of this story.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Orcas in Resting Formation

Welcome to The Whale Museum

The Whale Museum is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization registered with the Secretary of State in Olympia, Washington. b