Lesson Plan: Ocean Kings and Queens – Killer Whales and Great White Sharks
It may seem that the true ruler of the ocean is black and white – but not in the way you might think. While the great white shark has long been considered the apex predator, surprising new footage has revealed a solo killer whale devouring one. Such an event has never been seen before.
Videos captured by tourists and scientists aboard a boat off the coast of Mossel Bay, South Africa, were crucial to scientific observations published in a new study in the African Journal of Marine Science. Source: BBC Science Focus
A pair of orcas working in concert have been killing great whites along a stretch of South African coastline since at least 2017, plundering the sharks’ nutrient-rich livers and discarding the rest.
Scientists have been trying to make sense of the hunting approach, which has driven the sharks away from some parts of the coast around Cape Town, and now research has revealed a startling new twist in the behavior that could offer clues on what it might mean for the wider marine ecosystem. CNN
Subject: Science (Life Science, Ecology)
Learning Objectives:
- Students will be able to identify the key characteristics of killer whales (orcas) and great white sharks.
- Students will be able to compare and contrast the hunting strategies of killer whales and great white sharks.
- Students will be able to explain the concept of an ecosystem and the role of apex predators within it.
- Students will be able to analyze the potential impact of the observed behavior on the marine ecosystem.
Introduction
- Begin by asking students what they know about killer whales and great white sharks.
- Briefly discuss the role of apex predators in an ecosystem, explaining that they are at the top of the food chain and have no natural predators themselves.
Activity 1: Killer Whales and Great White Sharks
- Divide students into pairs or small groups.
- Provide each group with a copy of the article and instruct them to read it carefully. And this article. SCIAM
- Ask students to create a Venn diagram on a piece of chart paper, listing the characteristics of each animal in the separate sections and any shared characteristics in the overlapping section.
- Encourage students to discuss and research additional information about these animals if needed (using the internet or other resources).
- Ask students:
- What were the key differences in the hunting strategies of the killer whale and the great white shark?
- What was the likely reason for the attack according to the article?
- Briefly discuss the concept of ethical observation in the natural world.
- Share Esther Jacobs’ quote from the article and ask students how they might feel if they witnessed such an event.
Activity 3: Ecosystem Impact
- Explain the concept of a food chain and how a change in one population can affect others.
- Discuss the concerns expressed in the article about the potential impact of killer whales preying on great white sharks.
- Have students answer the following questions in their notebooks:
- How might the food chain be affected if killer whales start to eat more great white sharks?
- What are some potential consequences of a disrupted food chain?
- Why is it important to understand the relationships between different species in an ecosystem?
Read more:
- Megalodon: Amazing facts about the extinct apex shark
- How do sharks smell blood underwater?
- How deep is the ocean? Earth’s staggering depth, explained
Conclusion
- Briefly summarize the key points of the lesson.
- Ask students to share their final thoughts and questions about the article and the information discussed.
Extension Activities:
- Have students write a short report about the interaction between killer whales and great white sharks, explaining its significance.
- Research and create a presentation about the conservation efforts of endangered marine species.
Essay Questions:
- Compare and contrast the hunting strategies of killer whales and great white sharks. How does their behavior reflect their position in the marine food chain?
- Analyze the potential impact of killer whales preying on great white sharks on the marine ecosystem. Discuss the ecological concerns and the importance of understanding predator-prey relationships.
- Ethical observation is crucial in scientific studies of wildlife. Describe the potential challenges and ethical considerations involved in observing natural events like the one described in the article.
