Vessel
traffic is being evaluated as a factor that may have contributed
to Southern Resident Killer Whales becoming endangered. To determine
whether vessels affect the behavior of resident killer whales,
an observational study of Southern Residents was conducted in
Haro Strait, Washington, from 2003-5 at two different sites along
San Juan Island and an experimental study of Northern Residents
in Johnstone Strait, British Columbia, in 2004 along West Cracroft
Island. The studies focused on whale behaviors that may correlate
with energy expenditure (directness of travel, changes in speed
and direction, surface active behavior, and respiration rate)
or energy acquisition (time spent foraging). Vessel number and
proximity were treated as independent variables that may influence
how vessels affect whale behavior.
(noaa
paper source - p83)
Recordings
of British Columbia Northern Resident Killer Whales in the Robson
Bight-Michael Bigg Ecological Reserve rubbing at the beaches and
traveling west up Johnstone Strait (August
19, 2004).
