Endangered predators and endangered prey: Seasonal diet of Southern Resident killer whales

PLoS One. 2021 Mar 3;16(3):e0247031. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247031. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Understanding diet is critical for conservation of endangered predators. Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) (Orcinus orca) are an endangered population occurring primarily along the outer coast and inland waters of Washington and British Columbia. Insufficient prey has been identified as a factor limiting their recovery, so a clear understanding of their seasonal diet is a high conservation priority. Previous studies have shown that their summer diet in inland waters consists primarily of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), despite that species' rarity compared to some other salmonids. During other times of the year, when occurrence patterns include other portions of their range, their diet remains largely unknown. To address this data gap, we collected feces and prey remains from October to May 2004-2017 in both the Salish Sea and outer coast waters. Using visual and genetic species identification for prey remains and genetic approaches for fecal samples, we characterized the diet of the SRKWs in fall, winter, and spring. Chinook salmon were identified as an important prey item year-round, averaging ~50% of their diet in the fall, increasing to 70-80% in the mid-winter/early spring, and increasing to nearly 100% in the spring. Other salmon species and non-salmonid fishes, also made substantial dietary contributions. The relatively high species diversity in winter suggested a possible lack of Chinook salmon, probably due to seasonally lower densities, based on SRKW's proclivity to selectively consume this species in other seasons. A wide diversity of Chinook salmon stocks were consumed, many of which are also at risk. Although outer coast Chinook samples included 14 stocks, four rivers systems accounted for over 90% of samples, predominantly the Columbia River. Increasing the abundance of Chinook salmon stocks that inhabit the whales' winter range may be an effective conservation strategy for this population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis*
  • Animals
  • British Columbia
  • Conservation of Natural Resources
  • Endangered Species
  • Feces / chemistry
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Predatory Behavior / physiology*
  • Rivers
  • Salmon / classification
  • Salmon / genetics*
  • Salmonidae / classification
  • Salmonidae / genetics*
  • Seasons
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / veterinary*
  • Washington
  • Whale, Killer / physiology*

Associated data

  • Dryad/10.5061/dryad.sn02v6x35

Grants and funding

Funding was provided by the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/; MBH received the following awards from United States Navy Pacific Fleet: N00070-14-MP-4C762, N00070-15-MP-4C363, N00070-16-MP-4C872, https://www.cpf.navy.mil/. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. NOAA provided funding to Biowaves Inc. for part of this study and JKJ was subcontracted by them to conduct some data collection. Biowaves Inc. provided no funding for the study nor did it play a role in the study design, data analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript and only provided financial support in the form of authors' salaries and/or research materials.