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Status Review of Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus Orca) Under the Endangered Species Act

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Status Review of Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus Orca) Under the Endangered Species Act NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC-54 Status Review of Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) under the Endangered Species Act December 2002 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS Series The Northwest Fisheries Science Center of the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, uses the NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS series to issue infor- mal scientific and technical publications when com- plete formal review and editorial processing are not appropriate or feasible due to time constraints. Docu- ments published in this series may be referenced in the scientific and technical literature. The NMFS-NWFSC Technical Memorandum series of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center continues the NMFS-F/NWC series established in 1970 by the Northwest & Alaska Fisheries Science Center, which has since been split into the Northwest Fisheries Science Center and the Alaska Fisheries Science Center. The NMFS-AFSC Technical Memorandum series is now being used by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center. Reference throughout this document to trade names does not imply endorsement by the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA. This document should be cited as follows: Krahn, M.M., et al. 2002. Status review of Southern Resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) under the Endangered Species Act. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-54, 133 p. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC-54 Status Review of Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) under the Endangered Species Act Margaret M. Krahn1, Paul R. Wade2, Steven T. Kalinowski1, Marilyn E. Dahlheim2, Barbara L. Taylor3, M. Bradley Hanson2, Gina M. Ylitalo1, Robyn P. Angliss2, John E. Stein1, and Robin S. Waples1 1 Northwest Fisheries Science Center 2725 Montlake Boulevard East Seattle, Washington 98112 2 Alaska Fisheries Science Center 7600 Sand Point Way Northeast Seattle, Washington 98115 3 Southwest Fisheries Science Center 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive La Jolla, California 92037 December 2002 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Donald L. Evans, Secretary National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. USN (Ret), Administrator National Marine Fisheries Service William T. Hogarth, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries Most NOAA Technical Memorandums NMFS-NWFSC are available on-line at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center web site (http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov) Copies are also available from: National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161 phone orders (1-800-553-6847) e-mail orders ([email protected]) ii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................................................v LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................................................vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .........................................................................................................................ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .........................................................................................................................xxi 1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................1 1.1. Scope and Intent of the Status Review ........................................................................................1 1.2. Key Questions in ESA Evaluations.............................................................................................3 1.2.1. The “Species” Question......................................................................................................3 1.2.2. The “Extinction Risk” Question .........................................................................................3 1.2.3. Factors Not Considered in ESA Evaluations......................................................................4 1.3. Summary of Information Presented by the Petitioners................................................................5 1.3.1. The DPS Question: “Discreteness”.....................................................................................5 1.3.2. The DPS Question: “Significance”.....................................................................................7 1.3.3. Abundance and Population Trends.....................................................................................8 1.3.4. Risk Factors ........................................................................................................................8 1.3.5. Risk of Extinction...............................................................................................................9 1.4. New Information—Not Included in the Petition and Not Considered by the BRT.....................9 2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON BIOLOGY AND HABITAT OF KILLER WHALES......11 2.1. General Killer Whale Biology...................................................................................................11 2.1.1. Identifying Characteristics................................................................................................11 2.1.2. Taxonomy—Genus and Species: Orcinus Orca (Linnaeus, 1758)...................................13 2.1.3. Global Distribution ...........................................................................................................14 2.1.4. Regional and Global Nomenclature of Killer Whales ......................................................17 2.1.5. Feeding Ecology and Food Requirements ........................................................................19 2.1.6. Diving Behavior................................................................................................................20 2.1.7. Social Behavior.................................................................................................................20 2.2. Genetics of Killer Whales..........................................................................................................22 2.2.1. Introduction to the Interpretation of Genetic Data............................................................22 2.2.2. Microsatellite Genetic Data ..............................................................................................24 2.2.3. Mitochondrial Genetic Data..............................................................................................27 2.2.4. Morphological Data ..........................................................................................................30 2.2.5. Nuclear DNA, mtDNA, and Morphological Genetic Data...............................................30 2.3. Features and Environmental History of the Northeast Pacific Ocean and Inland Waters of Washington and British Columbia..........................................................................................................31 2.3.1. General Features ...............................................................................................................31 2.3.2. Environmental History......................................................................................................31 2.3.3. Geological and Climatic History ......................................................................................32 2.3.4. Geomorphological and Oceanographic Features ..............................................................33 2.3.5. Marine Species in the Northeast Pacific ...........................................................................34 2.4. Ecology of Southern Resident Killer Whales............................................................................35 2.4.1. Current Range and Distribution........................................................................................35 2.4.2. Population Dynamics........................................................................................................37 2.4.3. Potential Risk Factors .......................................................................................................50 2.4.4. Historical Population Size, Carrying Capacity, and Range ..............................................68 3. DETERMINATION OF DPS ............................................................................................................71 3.1. Taxonomic Uncertainty.............................................................................................................71 3.2. Data Relevant to Determining ESA Discreteness and Significance..........................................72 iii 3.2.1. Other Information .............................................................................................................73 3.2.2. Population Units of Killer Whales Considered as either a Taxon or a DPS.....................74 3.3. BRT Determinations of ESA Discreteness................................................................................77 3.4. BRT Determinations of ESA Significance................................................................................77 3.4.1. BRT Deliberations Process...............................................................................................77 3.4.2. Are Southern Residents a DPS of the Global Species? ....................................................79 3.4.3. What is the DPS (Global Species Taxon) to which Southern Residents Belong?............82 3.4.4. Would Southern Residents Be a DPS of an Alternative Taxon? ......................................82
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