Top Five Predators of the Great TideBy Cristen Conger, HowStuffWorks
 Under the SeaWhat causes a shark feeding frenzy? How the Salmon Spawn Works How Ocean Currents Work Sardines are the quintessential budget protein. When you peel back a tin can lid to reveal tightly packed rows of the diminutive fish, it doesn't exactly evoke a sense of fine dining. But in the chilly Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of South Africa, a host of predators hunt down sardines like voracious gastronomes at a five-star restaurant. In the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are flip-flopped from those in the North, with winter rolling around in June and July. When the weather shifts from hot to cold, the temperatures of ocean currents drop as well. Off the tip of South Africa, home to billions of sardines, chilly waters from Antarctica flow northward. In response, massive shoals of sardines retreat upward toward the South African coastline. Whenever the annual sardine run commences, it attracts a hungry following of both fish and foul. Dolphins, seals, breeder whales and others track down the migrating packs of plankton-eating sardines in search of a hearty winter feast. This fascinating feeding frenzy exhibits each predator's specialized hunting tactics and the integral role of the sardine run in the marine ecosystem of the Indian Ocean. Get a countdown of the top five predators. |
advertisement
|
-
our sites
-
video
mobile
-
shop
-
stay connected
-
corporate
