Research on diet and habitat use of killer whales in Northern Norway
As part of a long-term research effort on Norwegian killer whales (Orcinus orca), this application aims at launching biopsy sampling and tagging efforts that will substantially improve the resolution of ongoing studies. While biopsy samples will be used for dietary analyses, multi-sensor and satellite-tagging will provide with multi-scale information about movement patterns. Combining such data to photo-identification and behavioral observations available for 2008-2016 will result in a comprehensive study of foraging ecology and habitat use of Norwegian killer whales for conservation goals.
Throughout the two year-project, a maximum of 99 biopsies should be sampled along with six satellite-tags and 27 suction-cup tags deployed on killer whales. A maximum of five and eight suction-cup tags could also be deployed on pilot whales and humpback whales, respectively. This would enable a better understanding of how killer whales interact with other cetacean species and share common prey resources. These experiments should be conducted off Vesterålen and Troms regions, including Andfjord where the project is year-round based.
The specific research questions consist in basic research about a poorly known killer whale population, and for which alternative methods are not available. Although none of these procedures require neither physical capture nor handling of whales, biopsy sampling and tagging may induce some short-term disturbance to the whales. To best comply to the Norwegian legislation in place and in order to maximize animal welfare, key aspects of these experiments were deeply reviewed and best protocols were set up. Established protocols that aim at sampling only a subset of specific individuals ensure relevant sampling in regards to the research questions, while maintaining a reduced amount of sampled and tagged animals.
As outcomes of the project, both results in regards to the research questions and effects of each specific experiment on the whales will be reported.
Throughout the two year-project, a maximum of 99 biopsies should be sampled along with six satellite-tags and 27 suction-cup tags deployed on killer whales. A maximum of five and eight suction-cup tags could also be deployed on pilot whales and humpback whales, respectively. This would enable a better understanding of how killer whales interact with other cetacean species and share common prey resources. These experiments should be conducted off Vesterålen and Troms regions, including Andfjord where the project is year-round based.
The specific research questions consist in basic research about a poorly known killer whale population, and for which alternative methods are not available. Although none of these procedures require neither physical capture nor handling of whales, biopsy sampling and tagging may induce some short-term disturbance to the whales. To best comply to the Norwegian legislation in place and in order to maximize animal welfare, key aspects of these experiments were deeply reviewed and best protocols were set up. Established protocols that aim at sampling only a subset of specific individuals ensure relevant sampling in regards to the research questions, while maintaining a reduced amount of sampled and tagged animals.
As outcomes of the project, both results in regards to the research questions and effects of each specific experiment on the whales will be reported.