GRAY WHALE OCCURRENCE AND FORAGE SOUTHEAST OF KODIAK, ISLAND, ALASKA

摘要: Although the Bering and Chukchi seas are commonly cited as principal summer feeding grounds of Eastern North Pacific (ENP) gray whales (e.g., Highsmith et al. in press, Swartz 2006), records indicate that this population actually feeds opportunistically throughout its range from lagoons Baja California, Mexico, to Alaskan waters (Nerini 1984). Specifically, recent reports suggest may routinely feed Gulf California (Sanchez-Pacheco 2001) Bahia Magdalena, Sur (Caraveo-Patino Soto 2005), whereas Clapham (1997) noted occurred offshore even 1920s when numbers were very low. The dynamic nature foraging is best described coastal study sites along southeastern shore Vancouver Island, Canada, where shift among pelagic, epi-benthic, benthic prey within between years (Darling 1998; Dunham Duffus 2001, 2002). In 1980s southern Sea Chirikov Basin northern considered primary for ENP whales, based on reported high densities both (Braham 1984, Kim Oliver 1989, Moore 2000) their ampelicid amphipod (Grebmeier Coyle 1990). However, by 2002, productivity had declined precipitously, due either whale (Highsmith ecosystem change or both, only supported dense aggregations (Moore 2003). Indeed,