Project Information

Title: LTM Program: Long-term killer whale monitoring in Prince William Sound/Kenai Fjords 21120114-N

Project Year and Number: 2021: 21120114-N

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2023: 23120114-N, 2022: 22120114-N , 2020: 20120114-N, 2019: 19120114-N, 2018: 18120114-N, 2017: 17120114-N, 2016: 16120114-M, 2015: 15120114-M, 2014: 14120114-M, 2013: 13120114-M, 2012: 12120114-M

Principal Investigator (PI): Craig Matkin (North Gulf Oceanic Society)

Managing Agency: NOAA

Assisting Personnel: None

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

Research Location: Prince William Sound, Kenai Fjords

Restoration Category: Monitoring

Injured Resources Addressed: Killer Whales

Abstract:

This project is a continuation of the long-term photo-identification based program that has continuously monitored killer whale populations in Prince William Sound since 1984. A primary focus has been on resident killer whales and the recovery of AB pod and the threatened AT1 population of transient killer whales. These two groups of whales suffered serious losses at the time of the oil spill and have not recovered at projected rates. Assessment of population dynamics, feeding ecology, movements, range, and contaminant levels for all major pods in the area will help determine their vulnerability to future perturbations and environmental change, including oil spills. In addition to population dynamics from annual photo-identification, this project uses other techniques to determine the health and trends of the population. These techniques have included biopsy/skin sampling to compare genetics between populations, occasional biopsy/blubber to investigate contaminants, prey sampling of flesh, fish scales, and whale scat to investigate diet, behavioral observation, and remote acoustic monitoring to determine important off-season habitat. During FY18 - FY20 remote recording hydrophones have been recovered and redeployed in Montague Strait, Hinchinbrook Entrance, and Kenai Fjords. We are using results of the acoustic monitoring and its indication of presence of whales over the year to adjust our field surveys. Between our surveys and contributed photos, we were able to confirm that 5 and likely all 7 of the remaining Threatened AT1 transient population have survived to 2020. AB pod has been at least partially photographed in 2020, although not traveling in a discreet pod and detailed photo analysis has not occurred. It appears there are no new AB pod calves. We were scheduled to begin an optional morphometrics and body condition element to our program, but COVID 19 travel considerations have delayed this work. We are not proposing any major changes to this project for FY21.


Proposal: View (422 KB)

Reports:
FY17-21 Final Report: View (1,739 KB)
FY17-21 Final Report Appendix 1: View (2,995 KB)

Publications from this Project: None Available