Why is the orca important?
Killer whales are top predators in most marine ecosystems and impact the populations of common prey, such as seals and sea lions in breeding areas.
What is the mission of Dr Visser?
Dedicated to protecting the orca, Dr Visser believes in making science ‘consumable’ for the general public and as such she is often seen out in the community giving talks about these incredible apex predators.
What did Ingrid Visser discover?
Since 1992, when she had no boat and a tiny car that couldn’t have pulled the skin off a cup of hot milk, Visser has identified 130 individual orca around New Zealand. Some she recognises immediately – the boat propeller-slashed fin of Ben, whom she saved in 1997.
How do orcas benefit the environment?
Whales play a vital role in the marine ecosystem where they help provide at least half of the oxygen you breathe, combat climate change, and sustain fish stocks. Different species of whales feed on a range of marine creatures, including krill and fish, in the dark depths of the world’s oceans.
What is the role of the orca in this food chain?
Killer whales (also called orcas) are apex predators, meaning they are at the top of their food chain. They feed on fish and squid like other odontocetes (toothed whales) do, but will also target seals, sea birds and even whale species far bigger than themselves.
What is Ingrid Visser famous for?
Ingrid N. Visser is the Founder and Principal Scientist of the New Zealand-based Orca Research Trust, which works to protect orca and their habitat through conservation, education and scientific research.
Where does the surname Visser come from?
Visser is a Dutch occupational surname, meaning “fisherman”. In 2007, nearly 50,000 people in the Netherlands carried the name, making it the eighth most populous name in the country. Common variant forms of the name are De Visser, Visscher, and Vissers.
What made Ingrid Visser famous?
The first New Zealander to research orcas exclusively, Ingrid Visser began her study for a PhD in 1992. However, it was two months before she actually saw one of the impressive sea mammals. Since then she has spotted some individuals dozens of times, taking thousands of photographs.
How do orcas adapt to their environment?
Killer whales are agile and maneuverable in the water. When swimming near the surface, a killer whale usually stays below water for 30 seconds or less. Blubber smooths the contour of a killer whale and contributes to its characteristic fusiform shape, which is quite energy efficient for swimming.
Why are whales important to the environment?
Whales are at the top of the food chain and have an important role in the overall health of the marine environment. Whales play a significant role in capturing carbon from the atmosphere; each great whale sequesters an estimated 33 tons of CO2 on average, thus playing their part in the fight against climate change.