Orcas in Puget Sound

Ecologically, economically and recreationally, southern resident and transient killer whales have become greatly important to the nearshore environment of Puget Sound. Economically, whale watching in the San Juan Islands alone has become a $10 million industry in the last few years. The stock of sou...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Kriete, Birgit
Other Authors: CORPS OF ENGINEERS SEATTLE WA SEATTLE DISTRICT
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 2007
Subjects:
Biology
Ecology
*ECOSYSTEMS
*HABITATS
*WHALES
*PUGET SOUND
TRANSIENTS
INSHORE AREAS
FINS
NOISE(SOUND)
TOXINS AND ANTITOXINS
NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
POLLUTANTS
LONG LIFE
PUGENT SOUND NEARSHORE PARTNERSHIP
GRAY WHALES
HUMPBACK WHALES
KILLER WHALES
SOCKEYE SALMON
PINK SALMON
SRKW(SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALE)
ORCA RESTORATION
ORGANIC POLLUTANTS
Pacific
San Juan
Sockeye
Killer Whale
Orca
Pink salmon
Killer whale
Online Access:http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA477863
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA477863
Description
Summary:Ecologically, economically and recreationally, southern resident and transient killer whales have become greatly important to the nearshore environment of Puget Sound. Economically, whale watching in the San Juan Islands alone has become a $10 million industry in the last few years. The stock of southern resident killer whales (SRKW) in the eastern North Pacific declined by almost 20% in a five-year period to fewer than 80 individuals in 2001. These top predators use nearshore locations for foraging and travel and are very susceptible to human disturbances and ecosystem decline. This long life expectancy and position at the top of the food web contribute to the whales' accumulation of toxins. Decreased reproductive success has also been linked with reduced prey availability. The original document contains color images. PE 2007.

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