1. Bioaccumulation: A Case Study of British Columbia’s Killer Whales Lesson 1

2. Killer Whales of British Columbia
There are 3 different types of killer whales
They have different diets, ranges, languages, behaviour & social organization (Bigg, Ellis, Ford)
The three types are Residents, Transients & Offshore killer whales
The different kinds do not mate with one another!
(Barrett-Lennard)

3. So much is known because killer whales can be told apart as individuals thanks to the work of Dr. Michael Bigg
Dorsal Fin – shape, nicks & scratches
Saddle Patch
A12, Scimitar, 1941
A33, Nimpkish, 1971
Photos: Jackie Hildering

4. Resident Killer Whales
Eat fish – Mainly salmon
The fish can not hear in the range of the calls and salmon has very predictable spawning behaviour
This means that residents can afford to be:
Very social – they don’t leave their mothers, travelling in matrilines
Very vocal – each matriline sounds a little different
Because each matriline sounds different, they know exactly who is family and who is not. This if very important for mating! It allows them to avoid inbreeding.

5. Matriline example Resident killer whales – A30s
A30 female 1947
“Tsitika” A6
Male
“Strider”
A38
Male 1970
“Blackney”
A39
Male 1975
“Pointer”
A50
Female1984
“Clio”
A54
Female 1989
“Blinkhorn”
A75
2001
“Cedar”
A84
2005
No name
A72
Female1999
“Bend”
Know female by DNA

6. Transient Killer Whales
Eat marine mammals
The marine mammals can hear them!
This means that transients:
Must be very quiet until they are sure they are going to get their prey
Family structure less stable

7. Lesson 2

8. Resident killer whale
Salmon
Herring
Zooplankton
Phytoplankton

9. Transient killer whale
Seals
Salmon
Herring
Zooplankton
Phytoplankton

10. Food Web Transient killer whale Resident killer whale Seal Humans
Salmon
Herring
Zooplankton
Phytoplankton

11. Amount of food energy per animal (number of plankton markers)
Organism
Number Surviving
Amount of food energy per animal (number of plankton markers)
Total amount of food energy for the species
Resident killer whales 2
Salmon
Salmon #1
Salmon #2
Etc.
Herring
Herring #1
Herring #2
Herring #3

12. Amount of food energy per animal (number of plankton markers)
Organism
Number Surviving
Amount of food energy per animal (number of plankton markers)
Total amount of food energy for the species
Transient killer whale 1
Seals
Seal #1
Etc.
Salmon
Salmon #1
Salmon #2
Herring
Herring #1
Herring #2
Herring #3

13. Lesson 4

15. Transient killer whales
Persistent Toxins
Higher = more
Seal
Resident killer whales
Salmon
Salmon
Herring
Herring
Plankton
Plankton

16. Killer whale calf
Resident killer whale
Salmon
Herring
Zooplankton
Phytoplankton

17. Total number of marked food pieces Survived (S),
Organism
Number Surviving
Amount of food energy
Total number of marked food pieces
Survived (S),
Died (D) or reproduction and immune system problems (RI)
Transient killer whale 1
Seals
Seal #1
Etc.
Salmon
Salmon #1
Salmon #2
Herring
Herring #1
Herring #2
Herring #3

18. Organism
Number
Surviving
Amount of food energy
Total number of marked food pieces
Survived (S), Died (D) or reproduction and immune system problems (RI)
Resident killer whale 1
Salmon
Salmon #1
Salmon #2
Etc.
Herring
Herring #1
Herring #3
Herring #4

19. Number of toxic plankton markers
Organism
Number of toxic plankton markers
What this means
Herring
Less than 3
3 to 4
More than 4
Survives
Survives but will have reproduction and immune system problems
Dies
Salmon
Less then 4
4 to 6
More than 6
Seals or resident killer whales
Less than 5
5 to 8
More than 8
Transient killer whales
Less than 8
8 to 12
More than 12