TRUE or FALSE: Killer whale communities that consume salmon are not likely to be impacted by ocean acidification.

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When evaluating the statement about killer whale communities that rely on salmon, we must consider how ocean acidification (OA) affects the broader marine ecosystem and, in turn, such predator–prey relationships.
Option 1: True. This option claims that killer whales consuming salmon would not be impacted by OA. At first glance, one might think that a predator is insulated from the chemical changes in the ocean, but this ignores the ecosystem-level effects of OA. Ocean acidification primarily threatens calcifying organisms and some coastal ecosystems, yet its repercussions cascade through the food web. If salmon populations decline or shift due to OA-driven changes in their freshwater or marine life stages, killer whales that depend on salmon could experience reduced food availability, altered migration patterns, or nutritional stress. Therefore, the blanket claim of no impact oversimplifies the connection between OA and predator dynamics.
Option 2: False. This statement would be supported by recognizing that salmon are a key prey item for certain killer whale ecotypes, and OA can influence salmon abundance, distribution, and health by affecting their prey, nursery habitats, and migratory cues. Additionally, OA-induced changes in the coastal and estuarine environments where juveniles grow can reduce salmon survival, which in turn can ripple up to predators that rely on them. Even if some killer whale groups have alternative diets, the dependence on a salmon-based niche means OA can indirectly impact these communities through prey limitation and ecosystem changes. Thus, the claim that they are not likely to be impacted overlooks these interconnected pathways.
Option 3: (If considered) It could be argued that direct physiological effects on killer whales from OA are limited compared to prey-mediated effects. However, focusing solely on direct effects ignores the larger food-web context that links prey health to predator well-being, making this option incomplete.
Option 4: (If considered) Assertions about geographic or ecological variability might change the degree of impact, but the central idea remains: salmon availability and habitat quality are influenced by OA, which affects predators that rely on salmon, making the statement overly broad and not aligned with current understanding of marine ecology.

OCEAN 102 A Checking-In Quiz: Lecture 15

TRUE or FALSE: Killer whale communities that consume salmon are not likely to be impacted by ocean acidification.

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