How Blubber Keeps Whales Warm
In How Blubber Keeps Whales Warm, evolutionary biologist Ben Garrod shows how the blubber of different types of whales is uniquely suited to keep them warm in cold ocean waters. Discover the specific adaptations of three whale species: the minke, humpback, and bowhead, and how their blubber thickness correlates with the cold environments they inhabit. Understand the importance of these adaptations in whale survival and how blubber functions as both an insulator and an energy store. This video is excerpted from Secrets of Skin, a documentary series exploring the natural history of the body’s largest organ.
Lesson Express
Q: How does blubber help whales survive in cold environments?
A: Blubber insulates whales by trapping heat and by storing energy, helping whales survive in cold waters.
Q: What is the difference in blubber thickness between the minke, humpback, and bowhead whales?
A: The minke whale has 7 cm (2.7 in.) of blubber, the humpback whale has 12 cm (4.7 in.), and the bowhead whale has 50 cm (19.6 in.).
Q: Why do you think the bowhead whale needs more blubber than the other whales?
A: The bowhead whale lives in Arctic waters, which are much colder, so it requires thicker blubber to stay warm.
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