Project Information

Title: Prince William Sound Marine Bird Surveys and Associated Shelf Waters 22120114-M

Project Year and Number: 2022: 22120114-M

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2023: 23120114-M, 2021: 21120114-M, 2020: 20120114-M, 2019: 19120114-M, 2018: 18120114-M, 2017: 17120114-M, 2016: 16120114-K, 2015: 15120114-K, 2014: 14120114-K, 2013: 13120114-K, 2012: 12120114-K

Principal Investigator (PI): Robb Kaler (USFWS), Kathy Kuletz (USFWS)

Managing Agency: USFWS

Assisting Personnel: None

Project Website: https://gulfwatchalaska.org/monitoring/pelagic-ecosystem/pws-marine-bird-population-trends/

Research Location: Prince William Sound

Restoration Category: Monitoring

Injured Resources Addressed: Common Murres, Kittlitz's Murrelets, Marbled Murrelets, Pigeon Guillemot

Abstract:

We propose to conduct marine bird surveys in Prince William Sound (PWS) and the Northern Gulf of Alaska (NGA). In PWS, we will conduct small boat surveys to monitor abundance of marine birds during July in alternating years (2023-2029) to continue the time series used to monitor population trends for marine birds following the 1989 T/V Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS). Data indicate that pigeon guillemots (Cepphus columba), marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus), Kittlitz’s murrelets (B. brevirostis), and tufted puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) are exhibiting long-term declines in PWS. Furthermore, declines of offshore-associated genera of marine birds in PWS suggest that changes have occurred in the pelagic food webs of PWS. Because many seabirds use waters outside of PWS, we propose to include marine bird surveys in the shelf waters of the NGA. For offshore waters, at-sea seabird surveys will be conducted in spring, summer, and fall in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary Seward Line and the NGA Long Term Ecosystem Research site (NGA-LTER; 2018-present). The Seward Line portion is funded by the EVOSTC and North Pacific Research Board and will assess how seabird abundance and distribution responds to Environmental Drivers and lower trophic level changes. Together, the PWS and NGA-LTER surveys will (i) build upon long-term data sets to monitor population recovery of marine bird species following the EVOS, and (ii) provide managers and researchers with a tool to track impacts of environmental variability and climate change on upper trophic level marine predators. This project compliments the Nearshore and Pelagic Monitoring Components of the Gulf Watch Alaska Long - Term Research and Monitoring program (GWA-LTRM) by providing data on marine bird habitat use, changes in distribution, and population trends. Results will expand the capacity of the GWA-LTRM program to interpret observed marine ecosystem patterns in the NGA.

This project was approved for the FY22-FY26 funding cycle.


Proposal: View (1,352 KB)

Reports:
FY22 Annual Report: View (299 KB)

Publications from this Project: None Available

Resolutions: