Project Information

Title: Population Dynamics of Brown Bears After EVOS TM04

Project Year and Number: 1991: TM04

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 1990: TM04, 1989: TM04

Principal Investigator (PI): Richard Sellers (Alaska Department of Fish & Game)

Managing Agency: ADFG

Assisting Personnel: Sterling Miller

Research Location: Kodiak Island

Restoration Category: Damage Assessment

Injured Resources Addressed: Not Specified

Abstract: We estimated survival and reproductive rates of brown bears (Ursus urctos) on the coast of Katmai National Park, Alaska, during 1989-95 to assess effects of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Fifteen percent of fecal samples (n = 27) fiom brown bears captured in 1989 contained hydrocarbons indicative of exposure to crude oil. Females captured in 1989 and 1990 were divided into 2 groups: 12 with multimual relocations that included oiled coastline, and 21 that used unoiled areas. Survival rates during 1989-91 were not different (P > 0.90) between females from oiled versus unoiled areas. Based on the assumption that the availability and toxicity of oil was negligible by 1992, we also compared survival rates of both groups during 1989-91 with 1992-95 and observed no difference (P > 0.40). Recruitment rates during 1989-95 were not different (P = 0.12) between females fiom oiled and unoiled areas. Finite growth rates for the 2 groups suggested both were stable (X = 1.003 and 1.014, respectively, for bears using oiled and unoiled areas).


Proposal: Not Available

Reports:
Final Report: View (578 KB)

Publications from this Project: None Available