Discussion Questions: Warmer Oceans Affect Food Web

What has happened since the 1989 oil spill to the seabird and harbor seal populations in and around Prince William Sound, and what are some of the possible reasons for what has happened?
Describe how kittiwake populations can be viewed as "indicators" of predator/prey availability.
What are forage fish, and what role do they play in the food chain?
What environmental factor(s) might explain the decrease of the sand lance in this ecosystem?
When fish, seabirds, and marine mammal populations are stressed to the point that they are declining, what do you think should be done about human activities that might add to the stress, and why?