Project Information

Title: Mechanisms of Impact and Potential Recovery of Nearshore Vertebrate Predators 96025

Project Year and Number: 1996: 96025

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2000: 00025, 1999: 99025, 1998: 98025, 1997: 97025

Principal Investigator (PI): Leslie Holland-Bartels (US Geological Survey)

Managing Agency: USGS

Assisting Personnel: None

Research Location: Prince William Sound

Restoration Category: Research

Injured Resources Addressed: Harlequin Ducks, Intertidal Organisms, Pigeon Guillemot, River Otters, Sea Otters, Subtidal Organisms

Abstract: The project assesses trophic, health, and demographic factors across a suite of "apex" predators injured by the spill to determine mechanisms constraining recovery and improve knowledge of the status of recovery. Primary hypotheses: 1) recovery of nearshore resources is limited by recruitment processes; 2) initial and/or residual oil in benthic habitats and in or on benthic prey has had a limiting effect on the recovery of predators; and 3) EVOS-induced changes in populations of benthic prey species have influenced the recovery of predators.


Proposal: Not Available

Reports:
Annual Report FY96: View (21,411 KB)
Final Report: See Project 99025

Publications from this Project: Adkinson, M. D.; Ballachey, B.; Bodkin, J., and Holland-Bartels, L. Integrating ecosystem studies: a Bayesian Find it
Dean, T. A. ; Bodkin, J. L.; Fukuyama, A. K.; Jewett, S. C.; Monson, D. H., and O'Clair, C. E. VanBlaricom G. R. Food limitation and the recovery of sea otters following the Exxon Valdez oil spll. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 2002 Oct 4; 241:255-270.

Datasets:
EVOSTC Data Archive: GIS coverages, survey data, individual health and condition data. Various electronic. Availability: Subsequent to completion of project and publication of final reports. Specific requests prior to study completion would be considered on a case by case basis.