What critical intersection of features dictates the establishment location for walrus populations?
Answer
Shallow water and a productive food base of benthic invertebrates
The fundamental ecological drivers determining where walrus populations establish themselves are twofold and relate directly to their feeding strategy. They require the intersection of two specific conditions: access to shallow water areas, specifically the continental shelves, and the presence of a productive food base. Their diet consists primarily of benthic invertebrates, such as clams and mollusks, which they access by diving to the seabed. They rarely venture into truly deep water, typically limiting their foraging dives to depths ranging from 80 to 100 meters, underscoring the importance of shelf geography.
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