Water temperature: Killer whales are well-adapted to a wide range of water temperatures, from the cold waters of the Antarctic to the warmer waters of the tropics. They have several physiological adaptations that allow them to tolerate extreme temperatures, such as a thick layer of blubber and a high metabolic rate.
Salinity: Killer whales can survive in both saltwater and brackish water. They are able to tolerate a wide range of salinities, from the highly saline waters of the ocean to the less saline waters of estuaries and rivers. This allows them to enter estuaries and rivers in search of food or mates.
pH: Killer whales are able to tolerate a wide range of pH levels, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. This allows them to survive in both the acidic waters of the Arctic and the alkaline waters of the tropics.
Sunlight: Killer whales are diurnal animals, meaning that they are most active during the day. They rely on sunlight to navigate, find food, and communicate with each other. In areas with long periods of darkness, such as the Polar Regions during winter, killer whales may rely on other senses, such as echolocation, to navigate and find food.
Ice cover: Killer whales are able to survive in areas with varying degrees of ice cover. They are often found in areas with sea ice, where they can hunt seals, sea lions, and other marine mammals. In areas with heavy ice cover, killer whales may use cracks in the ice to surface and breathe, or they may travel to areas with less ice cover.
Oxygen availability: Killer whales are obligate air-breathing mammals, meaning that they must come to the surface to breathe. They rely on the availability of oxygen in the water to survive. In areas with low oxygen levels, such as deep waters or polluted areas, killer whales may have difficulty finding enough oxygen to breathe and may need to come to the surface more frequently.