Project Information

Title: Mechanisms of Impact and Potential Recovery of Nearshore Vertebrate Predators (NVP) 99025

Project Year and Number: 1999: 99025

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2000: 00025, 1998: 98025, 1997: 97025, 1996: 96025

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: FY 99 will be dedicated to production of the final report for the Nearshore Vertebrate Predator project. Funds for this year are for data analysis, final report writing, and poster/presentation preparation for the 10 Years After symposium. The Nearshore Vertebrate Predator project is making an integrated assessment of trophic, health, and demographic factors across a suite of apex predators injured by the spill to determine mechanisms constraining recovery and to improve knowledge of the status of recovery. Primary hypotheses are: (1) Recovery of nearshore resources injured by EVOS is limited by recruitment processes; (2) Initial and/or residual oil in benthic habitats and in or on benthic prey organisms has had a limiting effect on the recovery of benthic foraging predators; and (3) EVOS-induced changes in populations of benthic prey species have influenced the recovery of benthic foraging predators.


Proposal: Not Available

Reports:
Final Report: View (8,190 KB)

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.