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Seasonal Abundance and Distribution of Marine Mammals in the Southern Strait of Georgia, British Columbia

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Seasonal Abundance and Distribution of Marine Mammals in the Southern Strait of Georgia, British Columbia SEASONAL ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MARINE MAMMALS IN THE SOUTHERN STRAIT OF GEORGIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA by ALISON RUTH KEPLE B.Sc., Malaspina University-College, 1999 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Department of Zoology) We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA July 2002 Alison Ruth Keple, 2002 ABSTRACT The Strait of Georgia is a highly productive region and among the most important marine systems in British Columbia. It is at the mouth of the Fraser River, one of the most productive river systems in North America. Marine mammals are apex predators in this system, with at least ten species using the area during all or part of the year. Line transect surveys aboard B.C. Ferries vessels were conducted from May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001 to determine the distribution and abundance of marine mammal species in the Strait of Georgia. A total of 2,879 individuals, representing nine species, were seen in 898 sightings. Harbour seals (n = 1,629), California sea lions (n = 415), Dall’s porpoise (n = 397) and Steller sea lions (n = 205) were the most frequently observed, accounting for 92% of the sightings. Pacific white-sided dolphins (n = 110), harbour porpoise (n = 71), killer whales (n = 49), gray whales (n = 2), and a minke whale were also seen during the surveys. Abundance estimates were highest in spring and lowest in winter, with a second smaller peak in abundance in autumn. Pinnipeds were estimated to consume the most prey due to high population estimates for harbour seals and large body size of adult male sea lions. Peaks in marine mammal abundances appear to coincide with seasonal physical and biological factors in the Strait of Georgia and Fraser River system that may influence the availability of prey species. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT . ii TABLE OF CONTENTS . iii LIST OF TABLES . iv LIST OF FIGURES . v ACKNOWLDEGEMENTS . ix INTRODUCTION . 1 METHODS . 4 Study area . 4 Survey methods . 5 Data analysis . 8 Consumption model . 11 RESULTS . 12 Dall’s porpoise . 18 Harbour porpoise . 25 Harbour seals . 30 California sea lions . 37 Steller sea lions . 42 Other species . 48 Consumption . 53 DISCUSSION . 56 Line transect assumptions . 56 Marine mammal density and abundance . 59 Dall’s porpoise . 60 Harbour porpoise . 63 Harbour seals . 66 California sea lions . 68 Steller sea lions . 69 Other species . 70 Consumption . 72 CONCLUSIONS . 74 LITERATURE CITED . 75 PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS . 84 iii LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1 Group size of species vs. perpendicular sighting distances. 13 Table 2 Analysis of sightings during either flood or ebb tides. 13 Table 3 Dall’s porpoise abundance estimates and DISTANCE parameter 20 values of the half-normal/cosine model, truncated at 1,200m, for the Strait of Georgia survey area, May 2000 – April 2001. Table 4 Yearly Dall’s porpoise abundance estimates and confidence 23 intervals from alternative binning and truncating criteria of the perpendicular sightings distances. Table 5 Harbour porpoise abundance estimates and DISTANCE parameter 27 values of the hazard-rate/cosine model, truncated at 600m, for the Strait of Georgia survey area, May 2000 – April 2001. Table 6 Harbour seal abundance estimates and DISTANCE parameter 32 values of the half-normal/cosine model, truncated at the furthest 10% of sighting distances, for the Strait of Georgia survey area, May 2000 – April 2001. Table 7 California sea lion abundance estimates and DISTANCE 38 parameter values of the negative-exponential/simple model, truncated at 610m, for the Strait of Georgia survey area, May 2000 – April 2001. Table 8 Steller sea lion abundance estimates and DISTANCE parameter 44 values of the half-normal/cosine model, truncated at 770m, for the Strait of Georgia survey area, May 2000 – April 2001. Table 9 Other species sighted in the Strait of Georgia by month during the 48 surveys conducted between May 2000 – April 2001. Table 10 Prey species present in the diet of marine mammal species in the 54 Strait of Georgia. iv LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1 Vancouver Island and the Strait of Georgia. 2 Figure 2 Strait of Georgia, showing the study area for abundance estimates. 7 Figure 3 Measurements of line-transect surveys. 9 Figure 4 Sightings made during Strait of Georgia surveys from May 1, 2000 14 to April 30, 2001 in spring. Figure 5 Sightings made during Strait of Georgia surveys from May 1, 2000 15 to April 30, 2001 in summer. Figure 6 Sightings made during Strait of Georgia surveys from May 1, 2000 16 to April 30, 2001 in fall. Figure 7 Sightings made during Strait of Georgia surveys from May 1, 2000 17 to April 30, 2001 in winter. Figure 8 Probability detection distribution for perpendicular sighting 19 distances of Dall’s porpoise. Figure 9 Dall’s porpoise sightings during Strait of Georgia surveys from 21 May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 10 DISTANCE abundance estimates for Dall’s porpoise in the Strait 22 of Georgia study area, from May 2000 – April 2001. Figure 11 Frequency of Dall’s porpoise group size observed during surveys 22 in the Strait of Georgia, May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 12 Dall’s porpoise sightings by group size. 23 Figure 13 Mean group size of Dall’s porpoise within the truncated distance, 24 observed during Strait of Georgia surveys from May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 14 Dall’s porpoise DISTANCE abundance estimates and log- normal 25 95% confidence intervals for the alternative cases modelled. Figure 15 Probability detection distribution for perpendicular sighting 26 distances of harbour porpoise. v Figure 16 DISTANCE abundance estimates for harbour porpoise in the Strait 26 of Georgia study area, from May 2000 to April 2001. Figure 17 Harbour porpoise sightings during Strait of Georgia surveys from 28 May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 18 Frequency of harbour porpoise group size observed during surveys 29 in the Strait of Georgia, May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 19 Mean group size of harbour porpoise within the truncated distance, 29 observed during surveys in the Strait of Georgia, May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 20 Harbour seal sightings during Strait of Georgia surveys from May 31 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 21 Probability detection distribution for perpendicular sighting 33 distances of harbour seals. Figure 22 DISTANCE abundance estimates for harbour seals in the Strait of 33 Georgia study area, from May 1, 2000 to April30, 2001. Figure 23 Number of harbour seals observed hauled out at Entrance Island 34 during surveys in the Strait of Georgia, May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 24 Number of harbour seals hauled out vs. tide height when passing 35 the haulout site. Figure 25 Frequency of harbour seal group size observed (excluding hauled- 36 out animals) during surveys in the Strait of Georgia, May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 26 Mean group size of harbour seals (excluding hauled-out animals) 36 within the truncated distance, observed during surveys in the Strait of Georgia, May 1, 2000 to April30, 2001. Figure 27 Probability detection distribution for perpendicular sighting 37 distances of California sea lions. Figure 28 DISTANCE abundance estimates for California sea lions in the 39 Strait of Georgia study area, from May 2000 to April 2001. Figure 29 California sea lion sightings during Strait of Georgia surveys from 40 May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. vi Figure 30 Number of California sea lions observed hauled out at Entrance 41 Island during surveys in the Strait of Georgia, May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 31 Frequency of California sea lion group size (excluding hauled-out 41 animals) observed during surveys in the Strait of Georgia, May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 32 Mean group size (excluding hauled-out animals) of California sea 42 lions within the truncated distance, observed during surveys in the Strait of Georgia, May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 33 Probability detection distribution for perpendicular sighting 43 distances of Steller sea lions. Figure 34 DISTANCE abundance estimates for Steller sea lions in the Strait 43 of Georgia study area, from May 2000 to April 2001. Figure 35 Steller sea lion sightings during Strait of Georgia surveys from 45 May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 36 Number of Steller sea lions observed hauled out at Entrance Island 46 during surveys in the Strait of Georgia, May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 37 Frequency of Steller sea lion group size (excluding hauled-out 47 animals) observed during surveys in the Strait of Georgia, May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 38 Mean group size (excluding hauled-out animals) of Steller sea 47 lions within the truncated distance, observed during surveys in the Strait of Georgia, May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 39 Pacific white-sided dolphin sightings during Strait of Georgia 49 surveys from May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 40 Killer whale sightings during Strait of Georgia surveys from May 50 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 41 Gray whale sightings during Strait of Georgia surveys from May 51 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. Figure 42 Minke whale sightings during Strait of Georgia surveys from May 52 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001. vii Figure 43 Estimated total consumption by marine mammals species in the 55 Strait of Georgia study area. Figure 44 Seasonal estimate of total prey consumed for all marine mammal 55 species present in the Strait of Georgia study area.
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