Behavioral ecology of killer whales ( Orcinus orca) in the Pacific Northwest
Killer whales (Orcinus orca) were found to use different physiographic regions of their habitat in unique ways. Resident whales fed more in areas of high relief subsurface topography along salmon migratory routes, and may use these geographic features to increase feeding efficiency. Transient whales...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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Language: | French |
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Canadian Science Publishing
1988
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z88-084 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z88-084 |
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z88-084 2024-09-15T18:28:49+00:00 Behavioral ecology of killer whales ( Orcinus orca) in the Pacific Northwest Heimlich-Boran, James R. 1988 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z88-084 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z88-084 fr fre Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 66, issue 3, page 565-578 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 journal-article 1988 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z88-084 2024-08-01T04:10:01Z Killer whales (Orcinus orca) were found to use different physiographic regions of their habitat in unique ways. Resident whales fed more in areas of high relief subsurface topography along salmon migratory routes, and may use these geographic features to increase feeding efficiency. Transient whales fed in shallow protected areas around concentrations of their prey, harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). Whales traveled across deep, featureless areas in moving from one feeding area to another. Whales rested depending on the previous sequence of behaviors and played in open water areas or adjacent to feeding areas. The location of food resources and habitats suitable for prey capture appears to be the prime determining factor in the behavioral ecology of these whales. These patterns of behavior most likely represent cultural mechanisms that have been learned through trial and error experiences leading to successful foraging strategies. Article in Journal/Newspaper Orca Orcinus orca Phoca vitulina Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Zoology 66 3 565 578 |
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Open Polar |
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Canadian Science Publishing |
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crcansciencepubl |
language |
French |
description |
Killer whales (Orcinus orca) were found to use different physiographic regions of their habitat in unique ways. Resident whales fed more in areas of high relief subsurface topography along salmon migratory routes, and may use these geographic features to increase feeding efficiency. Transient whales fed in shallow protected areas around concentrations of their prey, harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). Whales traveled across deep, featureless areas in moving from one feeding area to another. Whales rested depending on the previous sequence of behaviors and played in open water areas or adjacent to feeding areas. The location of food resources and habitats suitable for prey capture appears to be the prime determining factor in the behavioral ecology of these whales. These patterns of behavior most likely represent cultural mechanisms that have been learned through trial and error experiences leading to successful foraging strategies. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Heimlich-Boran, James R. |
spellingShingle |
Heimlich-Boran, James R. Behavioral ecology of killer whales ( Orcinus orca) in the Pacific Northwest |
author_facet |
Heimlich-Boran, James R. |
author_sort |
Heimlich-Boran, James R. |
title |
Behavioral ecology of killer whales ( Orcinus orca) in the Pacific Northwest |
title_short |
Behavioral ecology of killer whales ( Orcinus orca) in the Pacific Northwest |
title_full |
Behavioral ecology of killer whales ( Orcinus orca) in the Pacific Northwest |
title_fullStr |
Behavioral ecology of killer whales ( Orcinus orca) in the Pacific Northwest |
title_full_unstemmed |
Behavioral ecology of killer whales ( Orcinus orca) in the Pacific Northwest |
title_sort |
behavioral ecology of killer whales ( orcinus orca) in the pacific northwest |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
1988 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z88-084 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z88-084 |
genre |
Orca Orcinus orca Phoca vitulina |
genre_facet |
Orca Orcinus orca Phoca vitulina |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 66, issue 3, page 565-578 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z88-084 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
66 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
565 |
op_container_end_page |
578 |
_version_ |
1810470255196110848 |