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1
Craig Matkin
Lance Barrett Lennard
David Ellifrit
Ecotypic Variation and Predatory Ecotypic Variation and Predatory Behavior of Killer Whales in the Eastern Behavior of Killer Whales in the Eastern AleutiansAleutians
ASLCNPUMMRC
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AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements
SSteller SSea LLion RResearch IInitiative
Field Assistance: Mike Brittain Damian Power, Peter Nilsson, Buck Laukitis Flip Nicklin (photographs)
NPUMMRC
Alaska Sea Life Center
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Southeastern Alaska
Northern Gulf of AlaskaEastern Aleutians
Bering Sea
Regional focal areas and “hotspots” as a Complement to NMFS/NMML cruises
MethodsMethods
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Summer
Spring
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Research vessels: 32-42 ‘ Research vessels: 32-42 ‘ aluminum fishing boatsaluminum fishing boats
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PHOTOIDENTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUALSover a period of years from small vesselsin killer whale “hot spots”
High speed Black and whiteWith digitalbackup
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GENETICS, CONTAMINANTS,LIPID/FATTY ACID,STABLE ISOTOPES
Using an air powered rifle toto collect skin andblubber biopsies
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Lightweight biopsy darts take a 30mm x 5mm sample from saddle patch region
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Biopsy darts with samples
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ACOUSTICS
Classification of Discrete Calls to Determine Lineage
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FEEDING HABITSDirect evidence required to determine predation
1) Sample of prey 2) Prey observed in mouth
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Separation of Lineages by Genetics, Separation of Lineages by Genetics, Acoustics and AssociationAcoustics and Association
• All groups of whales from 281 killer whale encounters from 2001 to 2005 could be classified to lineages by acoustic or genetic sampling or association with previously sampled animals
• Three lineages were determined:• RESIDENTS RESIDENTS (900+),• TRANSIENTSTRANSIENTS (192) • OFFSHORESOFFSHORES (54+) only one encounter
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• RESIDENTSRESIDENTS 31 calls identified, 23 call types. Seven showed 31 calls identified, 23 call types. Seven showed
no similarity with residents in other areas, 16 shared some no similarity with residents in other areas, 16 shared some structural similarity with residents from GOAstructural similarity with residents from GOA
• TRANSIENTSTRANSIENTS No calls shared with residents. Identified 24 calls No calls shared with residents. Identified 24 calls and 14 call types. Seven showed no similarity to transients in and 14 call types. Seven showed no similarity to transients in other areasother areas
• OFFSHORESOFFSHORES No shared calls with transients/residents No shared calls with transients/residents Recordings from only one encounter, but very similar to calls Recordings from only one encounter, but very similar to calls recorded in offshore encounters elsewhere recorded in offshore encounters elsewhere
• There is with residents and transients evidence for finer scale There is with residents and transients evidence for finer scale population separations, but not with offshorespopulation separations, but not with offshores
Acoustic SeparationsAcoustic Separations
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Genetic mtDNA Separations
• RESIDENTS RESIDENTS Single haplotype =NR (central Aleutians = SR (NMML data) northern Gulf of AK = NR/SR mix)
• TRANSIENTSTRANSIENTS False Pass (spring) mixed haplotypes = GAT1, GAT2, AT1 Unimak Pass/Umnak I. (summer)= Single haplotype = GAT1
• OFFSHORESOFFSHORES = Single Haplotype = OFF
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Ecotypic SeparationEcotypic Separation
• Research results thus far indicate Eastern Aleutian resident lineages and transient lineages comprise separate ecotypes… residents preying on fish and transients on marine mammals
• Data is insufficient to classify offshore lineages by ecotype
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Resident Killer Whale TracklinesResident Killer Whale Tracklines2001-20042001-2004
Tracks tend to follow 200m depth contour
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1150
534
745
903
10231110
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Year
Nu
mb
er o
f w
hal
esDiscovery Curve for Eastern Aleutian Discovery Curve for Eastern Aleutian
Resident Killer WhalesResident Killer Whales
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657 135
False Pass Spring 2003-2005
EA Summer 2001-5
Number of Transients Identified Number of Transients Identified in Eastern Aleutiansin Eastern Aleutians
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157
84
114
135149
23
41
6357
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Year
Nu
mb
er
of
wh
ale
s Spring False Pass
Summer Eastern Aleutians
Discovery Curves for Spring False Pass and Summer Eastern Aleutians Transients
Summer 2005: short season
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Eastern Aleutian Transient PredationEastern Aleutian Transient Predation
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Marine Mammal Kills by Transient Whales Unimak Pass-Umnak Is. Summer
2001--2005 n= 9Steller Sea
Lion11%
Northern Fur Seal
67%
Minke whale22%
From Barrett-Lennard and Matkin in review
Also harassment:2 northern fur seals3 Dalls porpoise1 Humpback whale
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Marine Mammal Kills by Transient Whales False Pass/Unimak/I.
Spring 2002--2005 n=28
Gray whale100%
From Barrett-Lennard and Matkin in prep
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UnID Marine
Mammal21% Harbor
seal37%
Dalls Porpoise
34%
Steller Sea Lion0%
Harbor porpoise
5%
Northern Fur Seal
3%
Steller sea lion15%
Harbor seal27%Unid. marine
mammal26%
Pacific white-sided dolphin
1%
Dall's porpoise17%
Harbor porpoise13%
Minke whale1%
AT 1AT 1 n=38n=38
PWS and KF SEA SEA n =90n =90
Transient Feeding Summary Transient Feeding Summary (Kills Only observed by (Kills Only observed by researchers only)researchers only)
Steller Sea Lion11%
Northern Fur Seal
67%
Minke whale22%
EAT EAT summersummer
N=9N=9Also see John Also see John
Maniscalco et al Maniscalco et al posterposter
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Northern Fur Seal
Gray Whale
In May-June, 75+ individuals In May-June, 75+ individuals from a total “population” of from a total “population” of 141+ transient killer whales 141+ transient killer whales focus on grey whales in focus on grey whales in False Pass/UnimakFalse Pass/Unimak Island Island area area
In summer, 20+ individuals In summer, 20+ individuals of a total “population” of of a total “population” of
63+ transient killer whales 63+ transient killer whales feed primarily on Northern feed primarily on Northern
fur seals from Unimak fur seals from Unimak Pass to Umnak IslandPass to Umnak Island
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ConclusionsConclusions• Only transient type whales are significant marine Only transient type whales are significant marine
mammal predators in the Eastern Aleutiansmammal predators in the Eastern Aleutians• Prey and predatory behavior of killer whales Prey and predatory behavior of killer whales
varies by location and season in EA. Across varies by location and season in EA. Across Alaska there is a wide variation in predatory Alaska there is a wide variation in predatory behaviorbehavior
• Fur seals are preferred summer prey. Impact on Fur seals are preferred summer prey. Impact on this locally increasing population?this locally increasing population?
• If SSL predation was at similar levels in the past, If SSL predation was at similar levels in the past, it is unlikely that it drove the decline. it is unlikely that it drove the decline.
• But But fur seals were not as abundant in the past, fur seals were not as abundant in the past, SSL may have been more important in the diet. SSL may have been more important in the diet.
• Suprisingly, frequent predation on minke whales; Suprisingly, frequent predation on minke whales; however, little evidence of predation on HW however, little evidence of predation on HW even though they are much more abundanteven though they are much more abundant
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Bogoslof IslandBogoslof Island
Steller Sea Lion RookerySteller Sea Lion Rookery
Pups Pups 1973 23281973 2328 2004 2782004 278
Northern Northern Fur Seal RookeryFur Seal Rookery
Pups Pups 1992 8981992 898 1999 50961999 5096 2005 12,6312005 12,631
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Future WorkFuture Work• Examine predation in more detail in summer in Bogoslof Examine predation in more detail in summer in Bogoslof
Is / Bishop Point.(sea lion haulout) and continue spring Is / Bishop Point.(sea lion haulout) and continue spring work in False Pass/Unimak Island. work in False Pass/Unimak Island.
• Transient KW population dynamics in False PassTransient KW population dynamics in False Pass
• Radio/Satellite Tagging to increase follow times and Radio/Satellite Tagging to increase follow times and determine long term movements of KW in relation to determine long term movements of KW in relation to potential preypotential prey
• Nuclear DNA analysis/ further acoustic analysis to Nuclear DNA analysis/ further acoustic analysis to
determine killer whale fine population structure in EAdetermine killer whale fine population structure in EA
• Continue research into chemical methods of assessing Continue research into chemical methods of assessing predation jointly with NWFSC and NMMLpredation jointly with NWFSC and NMML
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