Project Information

Title: A Genetic Study to Aid in Restoration of Murres, Guillemots, and Murrelets to the GOA 97169

Project Year and Number: 1997: 97169

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2000: 00169-CLO, 1999: 99169, 1998: 98169

Principal Investigator (PI): Vicki Friesen (Queen's University)

Managing Agency: USFWS

Assisting Personnel: John Piatt

Research Location: Prince William Sound, Kenai Peninsula

Restoration Category: Research

Injured Resources Addressed: Common Murres, Kittlitz's Murrelets, Marbled Murrelets, Pigeon Guillemot

Abstract: Populations of common murres, pigeon guillemots, and marbled and Kittlitz's murrelets from the Gulf of Alaska are failing to recover from the oil spill. This project will use state-of-the-art genetic techniques to aid in their restoration by 1) determining the geographic limits and structure of populations, i.e., the extent to which colonies are genetically isolated or comprise metapopulations, 2) detecting cryptic species and subspecies, 3) identifying sources and sinks, 4) providing genetic markers for the identification of breeding populations of birds killed by the spill, 5) identifying appropriate reference or control sites for monitoring or reintroductions, and 6) determining the role of inbreeding and small effective population sizes in restricting recovery.


Proposal: Not Available

Reports:
Annual Report FY97: View (3,680 KB)
Final Report: Final Report Not available. For current status, please contact us.

Publications from this Project: None Available