Description of the GIS techniques Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Description of the GIS techniques - Essay Example Other whale types which do exist but are area to site include the sperm whale, killer whale and the fin whale. Sperm whales are famous for their massive heads and rounded foreheads. It is believed that they are rare because of intense hunting. However, data on the exact population of whales at the Scottish coast is hard to come by given that little research has been carried out to estimate their numbers (Clark, 1997). Some of the reasons for this state of affairs are the little research which has been carried specifically on this marine mammal. This may be explained by the fact that the United States has been keen to end the practice of whaling which kills whales for the sake of it. Therefore, a lot of research on whales has tended to be in waters around where the practice is prevalent such as Japan (Au, 2003; Griffin, 1998; Elnser, 1999). Industrialization and development around the Scottish coast is believed to have significantly led to the pollution of waters around the coast, compromising the quality of ecosystems these whales enjoy. This is because uncontrolled dumping of waste into the sea has negative effects on the environment, affecting the food chain in the process. Human activity along the coast has been increasing over the decades, increasing the frequencies with which accidents involving whales and other marine animals attack people. Sperm whales are known to dive to deeper levels in search of food. Even though their environment might have been affected, it is expected that still some would be around, assuming that their deeper diving can compensate for the declining food supply due to pollution. This is because pollution starves the plants and other marine animals such as fishes and seals fed on by the sperm whales of the oxygen and other nutrients needed for their nourishment (Elsner, 1999). Essentially this means that the whales are likely to have faced a drop in their food supplies. On the other part, such levels of pollution also have the