Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one species will benefit while not affecting the other species in a positive or negative way. The relationship between Humpback Whales and marine birds is an excellent example of commensalism.
Why do birds fly around whales?
The relationship between Humpback Whales and marine birds is an excellent example of commensalism . ... Closer to the shore, gulls such as herring or laughing gulls will take advantage of these large schools of fish conveniently located right at the surface because of the whale’s behavior.
How do barnacles benefit from whales?
In the case of barnacles and whales, only the barnacles benefit from attaching to the whales , but at no biological cost to the whale. This type of symbiotic relationship is known as commensalism. In this case, attaching to the whales gives the barnacles a stable place to live, a free ride, and access to plenty of food.
Will whales eat birds?
They feed on fish and squid like other toothed whale species, but will also target seals, sea birds and even other whale species – even if they are far bigger than themselves. ... But if the teeth are noticeably worn down, it is because they spent their lives sucking up small fish.
Do seagulls follow whales?
Right whales are accessible to gulls around Península Valdés because the waters there are so shallow that when swimming underwater a Right Whale can usually be seen from above by a flying gull. So the gulls just follow them from one surfacing to the next .
Do birds land on whales?
But some seabirds also have a taste for whales. ... Now researchers have documented a similar behavior in giant petrels in subantarctic waters, in which the birds land on the backs sperm whales and take bites out of their victims.
Do whales have parasites?
A parasite is an animal that benefits from an interaction with another species, called its host, at the expense of the host. Parasites like tapeworms infect the digestive tracts of their hosts, absorbing valuable nutrients from the host’s meal. Just like people, whales can have tapeworms .
Can barnacles attach to humans?
Yes, barnacles can grow in human flesh .
Are whale barnacles harmful?
Those patchy white spots you see on gray whales are barnacles. ... They don’t harm the whales or feed on the whales , like true parasites do. Barnacles don’t serve any obvious advantage to the whales, but they give helpful lice a place to hang onto the whale without getting washed away by water.
Are barnacles bad?
Even though barnacles are quite safely attached, barnacles actually are capable of moving as adults! ... Excessive barnacle cover can be a sign of general bad health of a turtle . Usually sea turtles are debilitated first, and then become covered in an extensive amount of other organisms, such as barnacles and algae.
Can whales eat humans?
No, whales do not eat people ; they primarily eat small aquatic lifeforms such as fish, squid, and krill, and a few dolphin species are even known to eat marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, walruses, and whales. Still, they are not known for consuming or eating people.
Do whales eat penguins?
Killer whales are top-level predators in the ocean. Killer whales are the largest predator of warm-blooded animals alive today. ... Killer whales have also been reported to eat many other types of animals including leatherback sea turtles, dugongs, moose, and penguins and other seabirds.
Do humpbacks eat birds?
Trapped inside is far more than fish . “We saw this over and over again, the humpbacks engulfing seabirds,” says Trevor Haynes, a fisheries ecologist with the Wildlife Conservation Society in Alaska who published a study on his observations in 2013. “The birds were so focused, they didn’t see the whales coming.
Do barnacles protect whales?
On the plus side, the barnacles can actually protect the whales , like a suit of armor. Gray whales have been known to roll over when under attack from other whales, presenting their enemies with a back covered in hard, spiny, immovable soldiers.
Do seagulls eat kelp?
This species gets its common name from its habit of feeding in kelp forests and other coastal, algal ecosystems. Like many seagulls, the kelp gull eats a variety of prey and will both hunt and scavenge for suitable food. They forage for many species of living, coastal invertebrates and for human garbage.
What is a parasite host relationship in the ocean?
That’s the case for parasitic relationships, where one partner harms, or hinders, a host animal that they live on or in. The ocean is teeming with parasitic partners that leech off of unsuspecting hosts . From jellyfish and corals to fish and whales, all groups of animals in the ocean have parasites.
