Choose a, b or c as the best answer. 23. Noise pollution in the oceans interferes with whales’:

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Whales rely heavily on sound to send and receive signals over long distances, so noise in the oceans primarily interferes with their communication systems.

1) Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Many whale species produce low- and mid-frequency vocalizations that travel long distances through water; these sounds are used for mating calls, maintaining group cohesion, mother–calf contact, and navigation.
- Human-made ocean noise sources (ship engines, seismic surveys, naval sonar) produce broadband and low-frequency noise that overlaps with whale call frequencies.
- “Masking” occurs when background noise makes it harder or impossible to detect biologically important sounds.

2) Step-by-step reasoning
- Whales emit calls intended to be received at ranges of kilometers. If background noise raises ambient sound levels in the same frequency bands, the signal-to-noise ratio falls.
- Lower signal-to-noise ratio means calls can’t be detected or are misinterpreted, breaking down communication between individuals and groups.
- Empirical studies show whales change call patterns, shift frequency, or stop vocalizing in noisy areas — clear evidence noise affects communication.

3) Calculations
- No numerical calculations are required for this conceptual question; the reasoning is qualitative (masking and signal overlap).

4) Why the correct answer is correct
- Option (a) explicitly names “communication systems,” which is directly and widely documented as being disrupted by ocean noise. Masking reduces effective communication ranges and interferes with social and reproductive behaviours.

5) Why other options are incorrect or less correct
- (b) “activities to find food”: noise can affect echolocation in toothed whales to some extent, but the primary and best-documented impact across many whale species is on communication rather than universally on feeding.
- (c) “ability to cope with stress”: noise can induce stress responses, but this is an indirect outcome; the most direct and consistent interference is with acoustic communication.

Conclusion: Therefore, the best answer is a. communication systems. This matches the provided correct answer.

Choose a, b or c as the best answer. 23. Noise pollution in the oceans interferes with whales’:单项选择题

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