Comparisons of Life-History Parameters Between Free-Ranging and Captive Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Populations for Application Toward Species Management
Data collected on life-history parameters of known-age animals from the northern (NR) and southern resident (SR) killer whales (Orcinus orca) of the eastern North Pacific were compared with life-history traits of killer whales located at SeaWorld (SEA) facilities. For captive-born SEA animals, mean...
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ftbioone:10.1093/jmammal/gyv113 2024-06-02T08:09:51+00:00 Comparisons of Life-History Parameters Between Free-Ranging and Captive Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Populations for Application Toward Species Management Todd R. Robeck Kevin Willis Michael R. Scarpuzzi Justine K. O'Brien Todd R. Robeck Kevin Willis Michael R. Scarpuzzi Justine K. O'Brien world 2015-09-29 text/HTML https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyv113 en eng American Society of Mammalogists doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyv113 All rights reserved. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyv113 Text 2015 ftbioone https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyv113 2024-05-07T00:55:29Z Data collected on life-history parameters of known-age animals from the northern (NR) and southern resident (SR) killer whales (Orcinus orca) of the eastern North Pacific were compared with life-history traits of killer whales located at SeaWorld (SEA) facilities. For captive-born SEA animals, mean age and body length at 1st estrus was 7.5 years and 483.7 cm, respectively. Estimated mean age at 1st conception was different (P < 0.001) for the combined data from both northern and southern resident (NSR) free-ranging populations (12.1 years) compared to SEA (9.8 years), as was the estimated mean age at 1st observed calf (SEA: 11.1 years, NSR: 14.2 years, P < 0.001). Average calf survival rate to 2 years of age for SEA animals (0.966) was significantly greater (P = 0.04) than that for SR (0.799). Annual survival rate (ASR) for SEA increased over approximately 15-year increments with rates in the most recent period (2000–2015 ASR: 0.976) improved (P < 0.05) over the first 2 periods of captivity (1965–1985: 0.906; 1985–2000: 0.941). The SR (0.966) and NR ASR (0.977) were higher (P ≤ 0.05) than that of SEA until 2000, after which there were no inter-population differences. Based on ASR, median and average life expectancy were 28.8 and 41.6 years (SEA: 2000–2015), 20.1 and 29.0 years (SR), and 29.3 and 42.3 years (NR), respectively. The ASR for animals born at SEA (0.979) was higher (P = 0.02) than that of wild-caught SEA animals (0.944) with a median and average life expectancy of 33.1 and 47.7 years, respectively. These data present evidence for similar life-history parameters of free-ranging and captive killer whale populations and the reproductive potential and survivorship patterns established herein have application for use in future research concerning the overall health of both populations. Text Killer Whale Orca Orcinus orca Killer whale BioOne Online Journals Pacific Journal of Mammalogy 96 5 1055 1070 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
BioOne Online Journals |
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ftbioone |
language |
English |
description |
Data collected on life-history parameters of known-age animals from the northern (NR) and southern resident (SR) killer whales (Orcinus orca) of the eastern North Pacific were compared with life-history traits of killer whales located at SeaWorld (SEA) facilities. For captive-born SEA animals, mean age and body length at 1st estrus was 7.5 years and 483.7 cm, respectively. Estimated mean age at 1st conception was different (P < 0.001) for the combined data from both northern and southern resident (NSR) free-ranging populations (12.1 years) compared to SEA (9.8 years), as was the estimated mean age at 1st observed calf (SEA: 11.1 years, NSR: 14.2 years, P < 0.001). Average calf survival rate to 2 years of age for SEA animals (0.966) was significantly greater (P = 0.04) than that for SR (0.799). Annual survival rate (ASR) for SEA increased over approximately 15-year increments with rates in the most recent period (2000–2015 ASR: 0.976) improved (P < 0.05) over the first 2 periods of captivity (1965–1985: 0.906; 1985–2000: 0.941). The SR (0.966) and NR ASR (0.977) were higher (P ≤ 0.05) than that of SEA until 2000, after which there were no inter-population differences. Based on ASR, median and average life expectancy were 28.8 and 41.6 years (SEA: 2000–2015), 20.1 and 29.0 years (SR), and 29.3 and 42.3 years (NR), respectively. The ASR for animals born at SEA (0.979) was higher (P = 0.02) than that of wild-caught SEA animals (0.944) with a median and average life expectancy of 33.1 and 47.7 years, respectively. These data present evidence for similar life-history parameters of free-ranging and captive killer whale populations and the reproductive potential and survivorship patterns established herein have application for use in future research concerning the overall health of both populations. |
author2 |
Todd R. Robeck Kevin Willis Michael R. Scarpuzzi Justine K. O'Brien |
format |
Text |
author |
Todd R. Robeck Kevin Willis Michael R. Scarpuzzi Justine K. O'Brien |
spellingShingle |
Todd R. Robeck Kevin Willis Michael R. Scarpuzzi Justine K. O'Brien Comparisons of Life-History Parameters Between Free-Ranging and Captive Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Populations for Application Toward Species Management |
author_facet |
Todd R. Robeck Kevin Willis Michael R. Scarpuzzi Justine K. O'Brien |
author_sort |
Todd R. Robeck |
title |
Comparisons of Life-History Parameters Between Free-Ranging and Captive Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Populations for Application Toward Species Management |
title_short |
Comparisons of Life-History Parameters Between Free-Ranging and Captive Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Populations for Application Toward Species Management |
title_full |
Comparisons of Life-History Parameters Between Free-Ranging and Captive Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Populations for Application Toward Species Management |
title_fullStr |
Comparisons of Life-History Parameters Between Free-Ranging and Captive Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Populations for Application Toward Species Management |
title_full_unstemmed |
Comparisons of Life-History Parameters Between Free-Ranging and Captive Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Populations for Application Toward Species Management |
title_sort |
comparisons of life-history parameters between free-ranging and captive killer whale (orcinus orca) populations for application toward species management |
publisher |
American Society of Mammalogists |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyv113 |
op_coverage |
world |
geographic |
Pacific |
geographic_facet |
Pacific |
genre |
Killer Whale Orca Orcinus orca Killer whale |
genre_facet |
Killer Whale Orca Orcinus orca Killer whale |
op_source |
https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyv113 |
op_relation |
doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyv113 |
op_rights |
All rights reserved. |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyv113 |
container_title |
Journal of Mammalogy |
container_volume |
96 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
1055 |
op_container_end_page |
1070 |
_version_ |
1800755637147140096 |