Prey and Predators

Isn’t it cool that the Pacific Ocean is 750 million years old? (Oceanservice.noaa.gov) But what predators live in this remarkably ancient ocean? According to Science Daily, “Among the Pacific Ocean predators tracked by researchers in addition to whales and tuna were several species of shark, leatherback sea turtles, two species of albatross, sooty shearwaters, Northern elephant seals, and California sea lions.” To keep the food web running, these predators need their food. Their prey can include fish, pinnipeds, cetaceans, and mollusks. To live in this aquatic environment marine species need particular adaptations like gills, blowholes, fins, and streamlined bodies. The Pacific Ocean supplies us with half our breathable air and is crucial to global food security.

Bottlenose dolphins usually live in groups known as pods. They stay together as their main predators roam the area.  Dolphins are prey to orcas and sharks. Adult dolphins are usually 10-14 feet long. (National Geographic) If a dolphin gets too far away from the pod, the mother or someone from the group will send out small signals to find the lost dolphin. Dolphins are super smart and sociable.