Project Information

Title: LTM Program - Humpback whale predation on Pacific herring in PWS 14120114-N

Project Year and Number: 2014: 14120114-N

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2024: 24120114-O, 2023: 23120114-O, 2022: 22120114-O, 2021: 21120114-O, 2020: 20120114-O, 2019: 19120114-O, 2018: 18120114-O, 2017: 17120114-O, 2016: 16120114-N, 2015: 15120114-N, 2013: 13120114-N, 2012: 12120114-N

Principal Investigator (PI): John Moran

Managing Agency: NOAA

Assisting Personnel: Jan Straley

Project Website: https://gulfwatchalaska.org/monitoring/pelagic-ecosystem/humpback-whales/

Research Location: Prince William Sound

Restoration Category: Monitoring, Research

Injured Resources Addressed: Pacific Herring

Abstract:

This project is a component of the integrated Long-term Monitoring of Marine Conditions and Injured Resources and Services submitted by McCammon et. al. We will evaluate the impact by humpback whales on Pacific herring populations in Prince William Sound. Following protocols established during the winters of 2007/08 and 2008/09 (EVOSTC project PJ090804). We will continue to monitor the seasonal trends and abundance of humpback whales in Prince William Sound. Prey selection by humpback whales will be determined through acoustic surveys, visual observation scat analysis and prey sampling. Chemical analysis of blubber samples (stable isotopes and fatty acid analysis) will provide a longer term perspective on whale diet and shifts in prey type. These data will be combined in a bioenergetic model to determine numbers of herring consumed by whales, with the long term goal of enhancing the age structure modeling of population with better estimates of predation mortality.


Proposal: View (716 KB)

Reports:
Annual Report FY14: View (159 KB)
Final Report: See Project 16120114-N

Publications from this Project: None Available