What factor primarily dictates the energetic justification for a pod hunting sharks?
Answer
Local availability of easier prey like schooling fish or squid
The decision for a pod of False Killer Whales to engage in a high-risk hunt for a shark is heavily influenced by resource availability. If easier, readily available prey, specifically schooling fish or squid, are abundant in the local environment, the energetic and risk calculus often deems hunting a shark unjustified. Securing a large shark carries inherent risks of severe injury, and if less challenging meals are plentiful, the downtime required for an injured individual to recover makes the risk-reward ratio unfavorable.
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