scholarly journals Feeding ecology of eastern North Pacific killer whales Orcinus orca from fatty acid, stable isotope, and organochlorine analyses of blubber biopsies

2005 ◽  
Vol 302 ◽  
pp. 275-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
DP Herman ◽  
DG Burrows ◽  
PR Wade ◽  
JW Durban ◽  
CO Matkin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
North Pacific ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Acid Stable

Ecotype and geographical variation in carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values in western North Pacific killer whales ( Orcinus orca )

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 925-938
Author(s):  
Ekaterina A. Borisova ◽  
Olga A. Filatova ◽  
Ivan D. Fedutin ◽  
Alexei V. Tiunov ◽  
Olga V. Shpak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
North Pacific ◽  
Western North Pacific ◽  
Geographical Variation ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Nitrogen Stable Isotope ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen

scholarly journals Eastern temperate North Pacific offshore killer whales (Orcinus orca): Occurrence, movements, and insights into feeding ecology

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 719-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilyn E. Dahlheim ◽  
Alisa Schulman-Janiger ◽  
Nancy Black ◽  
Richard Ternullo ◽  
Dave Ellifrit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
North Pacific ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Killer Whales

Spatial and social connectivity of fish-eating “Resident” killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the northern North Pacific

2013 ◽  
Vol 161 (2) ◽  
pp. 459-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly Fearnbach ◽  
John W. Durban ◽  
David K. Ellifrit ◽  
Janice M. Waite ◽  
Craig O. Matkin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Pacific ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Social Connectivity

Preliminary findings of restriction fragment differences in mitochondrial DNA among killer whales (Orcinus orca)

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (10) ◽  
pp. 2592-2595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy A. Stevens ◽  
Deborah A. Duffield ◽  
Edward D. Asper ◽  
K. Gilbey Hewlett ◽  
Al Bolz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
North Pacific ◽  
Killer Whale ◽  
Vancouver Island ◽  
Restriction Pattern ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Pacific

A preliminary assessment of mitochondrial DNA restriction patterns in the killer whale (Orcinus orca) was conducted using 10 captive North Atlantic killer whales from the southeastern coast of Iceland, a captive-born offspring of one of these whales, and 9 North Pacific killer whales. No restriction pattern variation was seen among these whales, using the enzymes BamH I, Bgl II, Hinf I, Kpn I, or Pvu II. Restriction pattern variation was found using the enzyme Hae III. This restriction endonuclease distinguished the North Atlantic killer whales (type 1) from the North Pacific killer whales. The North Pacific killer whales were further differentiated into two groups: those originating from the "resident" communities of the Vancouver Island region (type 2), and those from the "transient" community of Vancouver Island, as well as those stranded along the Oregon coast (type 3). The observed Hae III restriction pattern differences suggest that mitochondrial DNA analysis will be a valuable technique for investigating regional and local distributions of maternal lineages among killer whale pods, especially in the North Pacific.

scholarly journals Feeding Ecology of Elusive Caribbean Killer Whales Inferred From Bayesian Stable Isotope Mixing Models and Whalers’ Ecological Knowledge

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy J. Kiszka ◽  
Michelle Caputo ◽  
Paula Méndez-Fernandez ◽  
Russell Fielding
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Mixing Models ◽  
Physeter Macrocephalus ◽  
Potential Prey ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Marine Predators ◽  
The Caribbean

Investigating the feeding ecology of marine predators is critical for understanding their roles and functional importance in ecosystems. However, assessing the diet of large and wide-ranging predators can be challenging, particularly in the case of rare and elusive species. Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are large apex predators in global oceans, but very little is known about their feeding ecology in tropical ecosystems, particularly in the Caribbean Sea. Killer whales are distributed throughout the Caribbean, and are a regular target of artisanal whalers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (West Indies). Here we investigate the feeding ecology of Caribbean killer whales using a combination of stable isotope analysis (δ15N, δ13C) and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) data from whalers operating from St. Vincent. Potential prey data from the Caribbean region included large pelagic teleosts, sea turtles, oceanic sharks, cetaceans, and oceanic cephalopods. Mixing models suggest that the contribution of odontocete cetaceans to the diet of killer whales is the most important (overall mean contribution: 60.4%), particularly mesopelagic delphinids (Lagenodelphis hosei; 26.4%, SD = 0.14), large teuthophageous odontocetes (Physeter macrocephalus, Globicephala macrorhynchus; 20.0%, SD = 0.14), and epipelagic delphinids (Stenella attenuata; 14%, SD = 0.14). Oceanic sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) had a contribution of 17.0% of the diet of killer whales (SD = 0.13), and other potential prey had a relatively marginal contribution. TEK data suggest that whalers believe killer whales feed almost exclusively on cetaceans, particularly odontocete species that they hunt (e.g., G. macrorhynchus). Stable isotope and TEK data were consistent to some extent, although TEK data are qualitative and based on a limited number of observations. Despite some limitations (including sample size for both methods), this study highlights the value of combining independent data sources and methodologies to investigate the ecological roles of marine predators in data-poor regions.

scholarly journals Feeding Ecology of Three Euphausiid Species in the North Pacific Ocean Inferred From 18S V9 Metabarcoding and Stable Isotope Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fanyu Zhou ◽  
Junya Hirai ◽  
Koji Hamasaki ◽  
Sachiko Horii ◽  
Atsushi Tsuda
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Stable Isotope Analysis ◽  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
North Pacific ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Trophic Position ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Gut Contents ◽  
North Pacific Subtropical Gyre

Euphausiids are abundant micronekton and important links between higher and lower trophic levels in marine ecosystems; however, their detailed diets cannot be fully understood by conventional microscopy, especially in subtropical areas. Here, we report the euphausiid community structure in the California Current (CC) area and the eastern/western North Pacific subtropical gyre (ESG and WSG) and detail the feeding ecology of the dominant species (Euphausia pacifica, E. brevis, and E. hemigibba) in each region using a combined approach of gut content analysis via 18S V9 metabarcoding and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis. A pronounced omnivorous feeding of all studied euphausiid species was supported by both methods: phytoplanktonic taxonomic groups (Dinophyta, Stramenopiles, and Archaeplastida), Copepoda, and Hydrozoa were detected in the gut contents; all the three euphausiid species displayed an intermediate trophic position between the net plankton (0.2–1.0 mm) and the myctophid fish (15.2–85.5 mm). However, Hydrozoa found in euphausiid gut contents likely derived from a potential cod-end feeding, based on isotope analysis. E. pacifica in the CC province ingested more autotrophic prey, including pelagophyte and green algae, due to a greater abundance of Stramenopiles and Archaeplastida in shallow layers of CC water. On the other hand, non-autotrophic prey such as mixotrophic Kareniaceae dinoflagellates, Pontellidae and Clausocalanidae copepods, and Sphaerozoidae rhizarian contributed more to the diets of E. brevis and E. hemigibba because of a lower chlorophyll a concentration or potentially a scarcity of autotrophic prey availability in ESG and WSG. The feeding patterns of dominant euphausiid species conducting filter feeding were thus largely determined by phytoplankton prey availability in the environments. Dietary difference across three species was also indicated by stable isotope analysis, with a lower mean trophic level of E. pacifica (2.32) than E. brevis (2.48) and E. hemigibba (2.57). These results verify direct trophic interactions between euphausiids and primary production and suggest that the omnivorous feeding habit is a favorable character for dominant Euphausia species.

Large-scale habitat segregation of fish-eating and mammal-eating killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the western North Pacific

Polar Biology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 931-941 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga A. Filatova ◽  
Olga V. Shpak ◽  
Tatiana V. Ivkovich ◽  
Evgeniia V. Volkova ◽  
Ivan D. Fedutin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Pacific ◽  
Western North Pacific ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Habitat Segregation ◽  
Killer Whales
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