Half a million calories in a mouthful - filter feeding

Professor Tracey Rogers talks about filter feeding, a foraging method that allows animals like sharks, seals and baleen whales to consume huge amounts of food in one feeding event and with minimal effort.
Filter feeding can sustain whales for long periods, even over winter, but this feeding strategy is used by only a few species that became specialists. A few seal species also filter feed, but they use a tooth-based filter feeding system. The baleen whales that use this feeding strategy have lost teeth completely and instead use rows of bristle-like baleen to strain krill and small fish from the water. Study marine science @ UNSW.

[clarerogers]

As someone who is constantly surprised and impressed by the shear enormity of whales, I felt this video really highlighted exactly that. Loved learning more about their diet and how they can possibly sustain their metabolic function eating such tiny creatures!

[oliviabreuer]

I really liked this video because the visuals allowed me to fully grasp the concept of filter feeding and also comprehend the enormity of how much whales consume!

[maxblack]

I like the way this video not only talks about the adaptation and how it is useful but also how it possibly evolved. I had never thought about what whale ancestors used to feed and this video explained a possible solution. I also like how the video talks about the problems blue whales are facing and highlights the need to manage krill levels in the Antarctic

[TWhite]

I love your voice. It’s so pleasant and I can’t stop listening to it, it’s so smooth and calming.

[baileythran]

Learning more about how some whales could survive on krill is something I've always wanted to explore! This video gave me a new insight on what organisms can filter feed.

[amandakichline]

I really enjoyed this video. I have always wondered what baleen looked like, so I appreciated the vivid pictures. Very informative!

[vknazarenko]

Thank you a lot:) That was really informative and a great pleasure to listen to you as well.

[gracemaley]

This video was awesome. It explained an aspect of whale feeding that I had never known about before and the explanations are all very clear. The video keeps viewers attention with the graphics and other information

[samc]

Very interesting adaptations! Was lucky enough to see whales filter feeding in Alaska, so loved learning more about it!

[michaelwallach]

So interesting to learn about, I've never learned about an animal that feeds like this.

[susanli]

This video was so fascinating because I hadn't really understood how whales ate their prey before taking this class and watching this video. It was cool getting to see what the baleen of a whale looks like!

[afuadarko]

This was a fun video that had a lot of random knowledge that I could use to showcase what I learned in this class!

[lilygoldsmith]

This was one of the most interesting videos to me because it showed how all sorts of creatures use forms of filter feeding to get food. It also works well with the video on marine food chains in explaining how so much energy is lost between trophic levels!

[Mrmagiccity]

This is fascinating. How the biggest mannals on earth eat some of the smallest creatures, but in huge amounts. It is a trip. The woman presenting did a fantastic job

[jakeberkowitz]

Absolutely amazing statistics in this one. Fitting 100 people in a blue whales mouth, half a million calories in one mouthful, and 6000 dark chocolate balls in one bite. Crazy. Another great informative video but also entertaining and not too long. Keeps the viewers attention and overall great production quality.

[akylahcox]

Wow!! Very interesting facts! The way these whales use their baleen is so fascinating!

[money_audit]

It's so cool to understand why marine mammals are so much bigger than land animals. It's clear that there is so much for food that is easier to find and eat!

[gracebanfield]

I really liked the visuals of the whales themselves as it made clear how this feeding strategy works. Given the amount of krill whales need to consume to survive and their specialized feeding strategy, it makes sense how their size is making them vulnerable to extinction.

[jackiehahn]

It is crazy how the evolution of baleen led to whales becoming the giants they are today. It really shows how important certain adaptions for marine animals.

[lindseybullerman]

I enjoyed watching this video and learning how such big animals can survive on such tiny organisms!