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Gray Whales as Sentinels of Alaskan Ecosystem Variability. Sue E. Moore NOAA/AFSC @ APL-UW. Co-Investigators. Kate Stafford (APL-UW) Kate Wynne (UAF – Kodiak) Jackie Grebmeier (UT) Dave Rugh (NOAA/AFSC/NMML) Wayne Perryman (NOAA/SWFSC/PRD) Jim Overland (NOAA/PMEL). Gray Whale Basics. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Gray Whales as Sentinels of Alaskan Ecosystem Variability
Sue E. Moore
NOAA/AFSC @ APL-UW
Co-Investigators
Kate Stafford (APL-UW)
Kate Wynne (UAF – Kodiak)
Jackie Grebmeier (UT)
Dave Rugh (NOAA/AFSC/NMML)
Wayne Perryman (NOAA/SWFSC/PRD)
Jim Overland (NOAA/PMEL)
Gray Whale BasicsOnly member of EschrichtiidaeFeeding generalistsTwo populations in North Pacific: ENP & WNPENP pop. ~ 18K whales
*de-listed in late 1992**1999-2000 mortalities,
post 1997-98 El Nino
Ecosystem Sentinels?‘Weight of Evidence’
One-week delay in southbound migration timing, coincident with NPAC regime shift (Rugh et al. 2001)
Calving rates positively correlated with ice-free Chirikov Basin (Perryman et al. 2002)
Absence of feeding GW in Chirikov Basin, coincident with decline in benthic infauna (Moore et al. 2003)
Feeding whales year-round near Kodiak (Moore et al.*)
Calls detected year-round near Barrow (Stafford et al.*)
ENP Gray Whale Range
Rugh’s ObservationsShift in migration timing - PDO
Census @ Granite Canyon since 1967Median Southbound dates: 8 JAN pre-1980 15 JAN post-1980 1-week shift, co-incident with increase in calf sightings
North of Mexico (Shelden et al. 2004) [PDO = N. Mantua]
Perryman’s Observations-sea ice = +recruitment
Our Observations
Pt. Piedras Blancas, CA
Absence of Feeding GW in the Chirikov Basin…
Co-incident with Decline in Infaunal Benthic PreyJ. Grebmeier’s Benthic Time Series
So, if not the Chirikov Basin, where are Gray Whales Feeding?
10s to 100s of whales seen feeding year-round offshore Kodiak Island K. Wynne’s surveys
‘many’ west of the IDL in Southern Chukchi Sea
10s to 100s reported NE Barrow by whalers
10s of whales feeding near Sitka J. Straley obs.
‘Kodiak’ Gray Whales, 1999-2004
100s of whales in 2000 & 2001
Feeding on dense swarms of cumaceans
Benthic sampling from small boat,
15-20 August 2002Jackie ClementExtremely high cumacean densities @ 4 stations: 48,000-86,000/m2
Amphipods nearly absent
Meanwhile, Recorders Near Barrow
ARPs deployed OCT03-SEP04,via NSF-SBI cruisesPart of broader AK array; BioScience, January 2006
With thanks to:L. Munger (SIO) R. Pickart (WHOI)
Detect Gray Whale Callsthroughout winter `04 [until May]
AVHRR sea ice image: 25 January 2004
‘breathing room’ [image: Hajo Eiken]
Sea Ice and Productivity: Conceptual models
K. Wynne’s - ‘So What?’
Gray whales are not behaving “like they used to”; is it just population growth/recovery?Gray whales track prey shifts and thereby provide insight to local ecology. [Duffus Lab] Population & environmental time series supports modeling approach. [J. Brandon]Species should be considered NPAC/Arctic Ecosystem Sentinel – under development by NOAA Ecosystem Goal Team [S. Swartz]
Ultimate GoalsInclusion of gray whales (& other large whales) in Ecosystem Models.Capability to interpret Ecosystem Variability via population and health assessment of large whales. Improved prediction/response to mortality events.
THANKS for Support
NOAA/AFSC/NMML: GW census, aerial surveys, Kodiak prey assessment & ARPs (via Scripps)
NOAA/SWFSC: calf census, aerial surveys, sea ice analyses
NOAA/PMEL: conceptual model & web support
UAF/GAP Program: Kodiak logistic support
NSF/Shelf-Basin-Interaction Program: logistic support for Beaufort recorders