Wednesday September 25, 2024
KIRO —
A research team led by scientists from the University of Washington and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has uncovered new insights into the diet of resident killer whales, which could aid in the conservation of endangered populations.
The study, published on Sept. 18 in Royal Society Open Science, examined the dietary habits of two groups: the Alaska resident and southern resident killer whales.
While both populations prefer salmon, they differ in the types of fish they eat and when they switch species, providing critical information for understanding why some populations thrive while others struggle.
Researchers found that southern resident killer whales, primarily located in the Salish Sea, face a lack of food, particularly Chinook salmon, which has been impacted by human activities such as pollution, dam construction, and noise pollution from cargo vessels.