# Explain how the properties of water are important to marine mammals, such as whales, that live in cold ocean environments.

> AQA A-Level Biology (7402) — 3.1.7 Water · Explain · 5 marks

> Whales are large mammals that live in cold oceans. They rely on water for many life processes, including maintaining a stable body temperature and carrying out chemical reactions inside their cells.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Water has a high specific heat capacity / large amount of energy needed to change water's temperature
2. This means the ocean temperature changes slowly / stays relatively stable, providing a stable external environment for the whale
3. Water is a solvent / many substances dissolve in water
4. This allows transport of dissolved substances (e.g. glucose, oxygen, ions/minerals) around the whale's body in the blood / in solution
5. Water is a reactant in chemical reactions (e.g. digestion / hydrolysis) inside the whale's cells / used in metabolic reactions

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