UBC Department of Zoology

Cara Lachmuth


MSc student, (Dr. L. Barrett-Lennard & Dr. W.K. Milsom)
BSc Ecology (University of Calgary)

Contact Info:
Department of Zoology
University of British Columbia
6270 University Blvd.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada, V6T 1Z4

Tel: (604) 827-4522
FAX: (604) 822-2416
lachmuth@zoology.ubc.ca


The consequences of exposure to engine exhaust from whale-watching vessels on the conservation of the southern resident population of killer whales (Orcinus orca)

From 1996 to 2001, the southern resident population of killer whales (Orcinus orca) along British Columbia’s coast declined by 20% (Krahn et al. 2001). Accordingly, this population was listed as Endangered under the Canadian Species at Risk Act in 2001 and as Endangered under the United States Endangered Species Act in 2006. Three anthropogenic factors have been identified as possible causes for this population decline: decreased food availability due to the decline of salmon stocks, exposure to toxic chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and chronic boat disturbance (Bain 2002).


The core habitat of the southern resident killer whales is easily accessible by commercial and recreational whale watching boats. The number of vessels engaged in viewing this population peaks during the six months of summer, and the whales are followed for approximately 12 hours per day (Trites & Bain 2000). Exhaust pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and particulate matter are heavier than air, and tend to accumulate at the water’s surface where the whales breathe. This undoubtedly exposes them to higher levels of air contaminants than they would otherwise encounter.

My proposed study will evaluate the quantities of airborne pollutants from whale watching vessels inhaled by killer whales, and will estimate the physiological consequences of this exposure. If these consequences are found to be severe, or potentially severe, the study will include specific conservation recommendations and may serve as the basis for regulatory changes in the way that whale watching is conducted.

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Links:

http://www.vanaqua.org/conservation/cetaceans/
http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/~barrett/

Last updated: 4 December, 2007