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• Main Authors: William A. Walker, James M. Coe
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Okhotsk; Pacific; okhotsk sea; Physeter macrocephalus; Sperm whale
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.573.3472; http://swfsc.noaa.gov/publications/tm/swfsc/noaa-tm-nmfs-swfsc-154_p747.pdf

Odontocete cetaceans are affected to an unknown degree by the ingestion of oceanic debris. primarily the sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus. Published accounts discuss The pathologic effects of foreign body ingestion on captive cetaceans are well documented, and provide background information on the potential effects of debris ingestion on wild, free-ranging animals. A survey of major institutions reveals 40 incidences of debris ingestion in 16 species of stranded odontocete cetaceans. Plastic debris was prevalent, with a total occurrence of 80.0%. Evidence indicates ingestion of debris may be secondary to the stranding syndrome. A survey of prior food habits analyses on 10 species of odontocete cetaceans was conducted. All species combined, a total of 1, 7 9 0 stomachs were examined. Marine debris was encountered only in Baird’s beaked whale, Berardius bairdii, taken at two localities in the coastal waters of Japan. In B. bairdii taken off the Pacific coast of central Japan, debris incidence in 86 stomachs was 2 6. 7 %. ingested, O f f northern Hokkaido, in the southern Okhotsk Sea, incidence of debris in 20 stomachs was 15.0%. Food habits data indicate that the lower frequency of debris ingestion is related to differences in feeding strategy in the northern region. Plastic debris made up 39.1 % of the foreign material In the wild state odontocete cetaceans are probably discriminating feeders. occurrence of debris in Physeter macrocephalus and B. bairdii is due primarily to incidental ingestion along with benthic prey. Evidence indicates that the high