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Project Information

Title: Marine Bird and Sea Otter Population Abundance of PWS: Trends Following EVOS

Project Year and Number: 1993: 93045

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2010: 10100751 , 2008: 080751 , 2007: 070751 , 2005: 050751 , 2004: 040159 , 2002: 02159 , 2001: 01159 , 2000: 00159 , 1999: 99159 , 1998: 98159 , 1997: 97159-CLO , 1996: 96159 , 1994: 94159

Principal Investigator (PI): Bev Agler , DOI

Assisting Personnel: David Irons , Steve Kendall , Pam Seiser

Research Location: Prince William Sound

Restoration Category: Monitoring

Injured Resources Addressed: Bald Eagles , Black Oystercatchers , Common Loons , Common Murres , Cormorants , Harlequin Ducks , Kittlitz's Murrelets , Marbled Murrelets , Pigeon Guillemot , Sea Otters

Abstract: About 35,000 birds and 1,000 sea otters were recovered following the spill. Based on modeling studies using carcass, search effort, and population data, the total number of marine birds killed by the spill was between 300,000 and 645,000 birds, with the best approximation between 375,000 and 435,000 birds. The majority of birds killed were murres. The total number of sea otters killed by the spill in Prince William Sound was estimated to be between 3,500 and 5,000 otters. These estimates reflect direct mortality occurring in the first five months after the spill and do not include chronic effects or loss of reproductive output.

Restoration of marine bird and sea otter populations will require population estimates to determine whether recovery is occurring or if declines are continuing. This project will benefit marine birds and sea otters by revealing species that show continuing injury due to the Exxon Valdez oil spill; this information is necessary to plan meaningful restoration actions.

This project will also provide valuable information on the distribution and habitat use of these species. Survey data from this project have been used for these purposes by investigators of harlequin ducks, marbled murrelets, black oystercatchers and sea otters. Survey methods are flexible enough to provide for collection of more detailed information (such as age class data) if such information is requested by investigators of those species.

Keywords

DPD (detailed project description): Not Available

Funding Recommendations: View

Funding Detail For: 1993

Quarterly Project Tasks For: 1993

Annual Report: 1993: Not Applicable

Final Report: View (2.07MB)

Publications from this Project: None Available

More information may be available for this project under other years:

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