A marine mammalogist studied seal foraging patterns. Over a week, a seal consumed 4.2 kg of fish on day 1. Each subsequent day, consumption increased by 12.5% until day 4, then decreased by 25% per day. What was total fish consumption over the 7 days?

Sun, 03 May 2026 11:37:06 +0000

**The Hidden Math Behind Seal Foraging: A Week of Eating Patterns** What if a single seal’s daily meal could spark insight into broader ecological and behavioral trends? Recent observations by marine mammalogists tracking seal foraging reveal a striking week-long pattern—starting with 4.2 kg of fish on day one, increasing consumption steadily through day four, then sharply declining. This dynamic shift poses an intriguing question: how much fish does the seal consume in total over seven days, and what does this trend reveal about natural feeding rhythms? Environmental shifts play a key role in this consolidation. Day one’s 4.2 kg marks the baseline, with metabolic and behavioral patterns influencing intake through daylight hours. Up through day four, consumption rises steadily by 12.5% each day—reflecting heightened foraging activity and energy needs. After day four, a pronounced 25% daily decrease signals a behavioral reset, possibly related to conservation strategies, prey availability fluctuations, or internal physiological cycles. Breaking down the week reveals a non-linear consumption curve. Day 1: 4.2 kg
Days 2: 4.2 × 1.125 = 4.725 kg
Day 3: 4.725 × 1.125 ≈ 5.316 kg
Day 4: 5.316 × 1.125 ≈ 5.988 kg
Day 5: 5.988 × 0.75 ≈ 4.491 kg
Day 6: 4.491 × 0.75 ≈ 3.368 kg
Day 7: 3.368 × 0.75 ≈ 2.526 kg