Effect of changing fish stocks on marine mammals populations
What is the effect of changing fish stocks on marine mammal populations?
The fish available to marine mammals and sea birds in the North Pacific and Bering Sea is changing due to climate change and fishing practices. We are investigating how changes in the prey base affects individual animal health, and ultimately may contribute to the declines of populations of Steller sea lions, northern fur seals, southern resident killer whales, and sea otters.
Recent studies:
Diaz-Gomez M., D.A.S. Rosen and A.W. Trites. 2016. Net energy gained by northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) is impacted more by diet quality than by diet diversity. Canadian Journal of Zoology 94:123-135
Goundie E., D.A.S. Rosen and A.W. Trites. 2015. Low prey abundance leads to less efficient foraging behaviour in Steller sea lions. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 470:70-77
Rosen D.A.S. 2009. Steller sea lions Eumetopias jubatus and nutritional stress: evidence from captive studies. Mammal Review 39:284-306