Project Information

Title: Injury Assessment of Hydrocarbon Uptake by Sea Ducks in PWS B11 1991

Project Year and Number: 1991: B11

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 1994: 94066, 1993: 93033, 1993: 93033-2, 1992: B11, 1990: B11, 1989: B11

Principal Investigator (PI): Samuel Patten (Alaska Department of Fish & Game)

Managing Agency: USFWS

Assisting Personnel: Thomas Crowe, Richard Gustin, Charles Hastings, Robert Hunter, Paul Twait

Research Location: Prince William Sound

Restoration Category: Damage Assessment

Injured Resources Addressed: Barrow's Goldeneye, Harlequin Ducks

Abstract: This study will focus on the effects of petroleum hydrocarbon ingestion by harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus), Barrow's goldeneyes (Bucephala islandica), common goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula), black scoters (Oidemia nigra), surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata), and white-winged scoters (Melanitta deglandi) in PWS as a result of the EVOS. PWS is a major wintering area for these sea duck species (Isleib and Kessel, 1973). It is also an important migration area for sea ducks in spring and fall, and a breeding site for resident harlequin ducks during the summer (Hogan, 1980). Harlequin ducks in particular, because of their resident status and intertidal foraging habits, are considered substantially at risk to effects of the BVOS (King and Sanger, 1979). Goldeneyes and scoters, although migratory, are also at risk because of their intertidal and subtidal foraging habits.


Proposal: Not Available

Reports:
Final Report: See Project B11

Publications from this Project: None Available