scholarly journals Selective foraging by fish-eating killer whales Orcinus orca in British Columbia

2006 ◽  
Vol 316 ◽  
pp. 185-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
JKB Ford ◽  
GM Ellis
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Selective Foraging

Dietary specialization in two sympatric populations of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in coastal British Columbia and adjacent waters

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (8) ◽  
pp. 1456-1471 ◽  
Author(s):  
John KB Ford ◽  
Graeme M Ellis ◽  
Lance G Barrett-Lennard ◽  
Alexandra B Morton ◽  
Rod S Palm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Chinook Salmon ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Foraging Strategies ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Sympatric Populations ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Dietary Specialization

Two forms of killer whale (Orcinus orca), resident and transient, occur sympatrically in coastal waters of British Columbia, Washington State, and southeastern Alaska. The two forms do not mix, and differ in seasonal distribution, social structure, and behaviour. These distinctions have been attributed to apparent differences in diet, although no comprehensive comparative analysis of the diets of the two forms had been undertaken. Here we present such an analysis, based on field observations of predation and on the stomach contents of stranded killer whales collected over a 20-year period. In total, 22 species of fish and 1 species of squid were documented in the diet of resident-type killer whales; 12 of these are previously unrecorded as prey of O. orca. Despite the diversity of fish species taken, resident whales have a clear preference for salmon prey. In field observations of feeding, 96% of fish taken were salmonids. Six species of salmonids were identified from prey fragments, with chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) being the most common. The stomach contents of stranded residents also indicated a preference for chinook salmon. On rare occasions, resident whales were seen to harass marine mammals, but no kills were confirmed and no mammalian remains were found in the stomachs of stranded residents. Transient killer whales were observed to prey only on pinnipeds, cetaceans, and seabirds. Six mammal species were taken, with over half of observed attacks involving harbour seals (Phoca vitulina). Seabirds do not appear to represent a significant prey resource. This study thus reveals the existence of strikingly divergent prey preferences of resident and transient killer whales, which are reflected in distinctive foraging strategies and related sociobiological traits of these sympatric populations.

Fireproof killer whales (Orcinus orca): flame-retardant chemicals and the conservation imperative in the charismatic icon of British Columbia, Canada

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 224-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter S Ross
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Trophic Level ◽  
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyl ◽  
High Trophic Level ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Weight Of Evidence ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Killer Whales

Long-lived and high trophic level marine mammals are vulnerable to accumulating often very high concentrations of persistent chemicals, including pesticides, industrial by-products, and flame retardants. In the case of killer whales (Orcinus orca), some of the older individuals currently frequenting the coastal waters of British Columbia (BC) were born during the First World War, well before the advent of widespread chemical manufacture and use. BC's killer whales are now among the most polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminated marine mammals in the world. While the "legacy" PCBs have largely been banned, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have recently emerged as a major concern. The endocrine-disrupting nature of these two persistent fire retardants in biota spells trouble at the top of the food chain, with increasing evidence of effects on reproductive health, the immune system, and development in exposed mammals. The heavy contamination of BC's killer whales, coupled with their long life span and high trophic level, highlights the need for a "weight of evidence" approach in research, conservation planning, and regulatory decisions. Given the global nature of contaminant dispersion, such approaches can only be effective when carried out on both national and international scales.

Acoustic behaviour of resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) off Vancouver Island, British Columbia

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 727-745 ◽  
Author(s):  
John K. B. Ford
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Emotional State ◽  
Vancouver Island ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Social Signals ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Acoustic Behaviour ◽  
Call Type ◽  
Discrete Calls ◽  
And Function

Recordings of underwater vocalizations and behavioural observations were collected from 16 photographically identified resident pods of killer whales (Orcinus orca) off Vancouver Island, British Columbia, during 1978–1983. Vocalizations recorded during 43 days spent with three representative pods were analyzed for each of five activity states: foraging, travelling, group-resting, socializing, and beach-rubbing. The whales produced three types of sounds that were assumed to be social signals: discrete calls, variable calls, and aberrant calls. Discrete calls dominated vocalization in most contexts. An increase in production of variable and aberrant calls was observed during socializing and beach-rubbing activities. Each resident pod had a group-specific repertoire of 7–17 discrete call types (mean = 10.7) that was consistent over a number of years. The relative use of different calls varied with activity, but no call type was correlated exclusively with any behaviour or circumstance that could be identified. Discrete calls probably function as intragroup contact signals to maintain pod cohesion and coordinate activities. Structural modulations of standard call formats and variations in frequencies of call use appear to carry information on the emotional state of vocalizing individuals. Group-specific repertoires of calls may increase the effectiveness and reliability of this contact system and function as indicators of pod affiliation.

Dietary specialization in two sympatric populations of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in coastal British Columbia and adjacent waters

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (8) ◽  
pp. 1456-1471 ◽  
Author(s):  
John K.B. Ford ◽  
Graeme M. Ellis ◽  
Lance G. Barrett-Lennard ◽  
Alexandra B. Morton ◽  
Rod S. Palm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Sympatric Populations ◽  
Dietary Specialization ◽  
Coastal British Columbia

Live-Capture Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Fishery, British Columbia and Washington, 1962–73

1975 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 1213-1221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Bigg ◽  
Allen A. Wolman
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Killer Whale ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
In Captivity

In British Columbia and Washington 263 killer whales (Orcinus orca) were caught during 1962–73 of which 50 were kept for oceanaria, 12 died during capture operations, and the remainder escaped or were released. Peak cropping years were 1967–70 when 77% of all whales removed from the water were taken. Lengths of cropped males were 2.49–6.98 m and females, 2.80–6.25 m. Of 28 females taken an estimated 43% were mature and of 30 males, 20% were adult. The equation relating body length in centimeters and weight in kilograms is W = 0.000208 L2.577. Revenue to netters from the sale of 48 killer whales is estimated to be about $1,000,000. Of 48 whales held in captivity 48% were still alive on April 1, 1974. Survival to the end of 2 yr in captivity is 75% in whales thought to be immature and 13% in adults. The history, capture localities and techniques, and management regulations of the killer whale fishery are also described.

Variation in saddle patch pigmentation in populations of killer whales (Orcinus orca) from British Columbia, Alaska, and Washington State

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (11) ◽  
pp. 2582-2585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin William Baird ◽  
Pam Joyce Stacey
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Large Degree ◽  
Washington State ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Genetic Isolation ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Patch Shape ◽  
Dorsal Fin ◽  
Age And Sex

Patterns of pigmentation of the post dorsal fin patch, or saddle patch, were analyzed from photographs of 372 resident and 99 transient killer whales (Orcinus orca) from British Columbia, Alaska, and Washington State. Of the five types of saddle patch analyzed, all were observed on residents, but only two occurred on transients. Differences in saddle patch shapes were independent of age and sex. Saddle patch pigmentation patterns were similar among clans within a community. Pigmentation patterns differed significantly between the resident and transient forms, between northern and southern residents, between northern and Alaskan residents, and between southern and Alaskan residents. As the saddle patch shape may be heritable to a large degree, these differences suggest genetic isolation of the populations. If so, this technique may be used to delineate stocks of killer whales from other areas.

Vocal traditions among resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) in coastal waters of British Columbia

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 1454-1483 ◽  
Author(s):  
John K. B. Ford
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Vocal Communication ◽  
Orcinus Orca ◽  
Killer Whales ◽  
Structural Variations ◽  
Ancestral Group ◽  
Discrete Calls ◽  
Social Associations ◽  
Call Repertoire

Underwater vocalizations were recorded during repeated encounters with 16 pods, or stable kin groups, of resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) off the coast of British Columbia. Pods were identified from unique natural markings on individuals. Vocal exchanges within pods were dominated by repetitious, discrete calls. Pods each produced 7–17 (mean 10.7) types of discrete calls. Individuals appear to acquire their pod's call repertoire by learning, and repertoires can persist with little change for over 25 years. Call repertoires differed significantly among pods in the resident population. The 16 pods formed four distinct acoustic associations, or clans, each having a unique repertoire of discrete calls, or vocal tradition. Pods within a clan shared several call types, but no sharing took place among clans. Shared calls often contained structural variations specific to each pod or group of pods in the clan. These variants and other differences in acoustic behaviour formed a system of related pod-specific dialects within the vocal tradition of each clan. Pods from different clans often travelled together, but observed patterns of social associations were often independent of acoustic relationships. It is proposed that each clan comprises related pods that have descended from a common ancestral group. New pods formed from this ancestral group through growth and matrilineal division of the lineage. The formation of new pods was accompanied by divergence of the call repertoire of the founding group. Such divergence resulted from the accumulation of errors in call learning across generations, call innovation, and call extinction. Pod-specific repertoires probably serve to enhance the efficiency of vocal communication within the group and act as behavioural indicators of pod affiliation. The striking differences among the vocal traditions of different clans suggest that each is an independent matriline.

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