Factors affecting Southern Resident killer whale growth and recovery
Presentation Abstract
Since the 1970s when the Center for Whale Research initiated a long term population census, Southern Resident killer whales have fluctuated from 74 to 97 individuals (the current population size is approximately 80). Demographic fluctuations impact small populations, but the demographic variation in SRKW has also been driven by the recovery of the population from the large removals of young animals prior to 1973. External factors are also thought to contribute to the observed cycles and trends in SRKW; while several interacting mechanisms may be responsible, the data most strongly support a link between killer whales and their food (salmon), and this pattern is repeated across several other populations of resident killer whales in the NE Pacific. Our understanding of links between killer whales and their prey has increased over the last 3 years and continues to evolve. The focus of this talk will be on updating knowledge on these linkages, highlighting (1) correlations between killer whale demography and Chinook salmon biomass, (2) increasing the number of scale and tissue samples recovered from feeding events in other parts of their range with incorporation of fecal? and stable isotope data, (3) increased resolution of winter habitat use from the integration of data from satellite tagging, acoustic recorders, and sightings.
Session Title
Session S-05D: Marine Birds and Mammals of the Salish Sea: Identifying Patterns and Causes of Change - II
Conference Track
Species and Food Webs
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
1-5-2014 10:30 AM
End Date
1-5-2014 12:00 PM
Location
Room 611-612
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Killer whale--Conservation--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Killer whale--Population viability analysis--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Killer whale--Food--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Killer whale--Effect of fishing on--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Factors affecting Southern Resident killer whale growth and recovery
Room 611-612
Since the 1970s when the Center for Whale Research initiated a long term population census, Southern Resident killer whales have fluctuated from 74 to 97 individuals (the current population size is approximately 80). Demographic fluctuations impact small populations, but the demographic variation in SRKW has also been driven by the recovery of the population from the large removals of young animals prior to 1973. External factors are also thought to contribute to the observed cycles and trends in SRKW; while several interacting mechanisms may be responsible, the data most strongly support a link between killer whales and their food (salmon), and this pattern is repeated across several other populations of resident killer whales in the NE Pacific. Our understanding of links between killer whales and their prey has increased over the last 3 years and continues to evolve. The focus of this talk will be on updating knowledge on these linkages, highlighting (1) correlations between killer whale demography and Chinook salmon biomass, (2) increasing the number of scale and tissue samples recovered from feeding events in other parts of their range with incorporation of fecal? and stable isotope data, (3) increased resolution of winter habitat use from the integration of data from satellite tagging, acoustic recorders, and sightings.
