Experimental recovery of sea otter carcasses at Kodiak Island, Alaska, following the Exxon Valdez oil spill
ound, Alaska, spilling approximately 11 million barrels of crude oil. Oil was
deposited on beaches nearly 700 km from the spill site (Galt and Payton 1990,
Piatt et al. 1990), affecting thousands of hectares of sea otter
(Enhydra lutris)
habitat. Two of the principal limitations in determining the initial effects of the
Exxon Valdez oil spill on sea otter populations were a lack of recent population
data, and a lack of information on the proportion of the total number of sea
otters killed by the spill that were actually recovered.
ound, Alaska, spilling approximately 11 million barrels of crude oil. Oil was
deposited on beaches nearly 700 km from the spill site (Galt and Payton 1990,
Piatt et al. 1990), affecting thousands of hectares of sea otter
(Enhydra lutris)
habitat. Two of the principal limitations in determining the initial effects of the
Exxon Valdez oil spill on sea otter populations were a lack of recent population
data, and a lack of information on the proportion of the total number of sea
otters killed by the spill that were actually recovered.
On 24 March 1989, the T/V Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska, spilling approximately 11 million barrels of crude oil. Oil was deposited on beaches nearly 700 km from the spill site (Galt and Payton 1990, Piatt et al. 1990), affecting thousands of hectares of sea otter (Enhydra lutris) habitat. Two of the principal limitations in determining the initial effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on sea otter populations were a lack of recent population data, and a lack of information on the proportion of the total number of sea otters killed by the spill that were actually recovered.
In late April and early May oil spread to the Kodiak Archipelago. With the oil came wildlife rescue, beach cleanup, and other spill-response activities including searches for dead birds and mammals. We took this opportunity to assess experimentally the recovery of sea otter carcasses in the Kodiak Island area. Specifically, we were interested in the proportion of the total number of dead sea otters the recovered carcasses represented.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 1994 |
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Title | Experimental recovery of sea otter carcasses at Kodiak Island, Alaska, following the Exxon Valdez oil spill |
DOI | 10.1111/j.1748-7692.1994.tb00509.x |
Authors | Anthony R. DeGange, Angela M. Doroff, Daniel H. Monson |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Marine Mammal Science |
Index ID | 70184361 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Alaska Science Center; Alaska Science Center Biology MFEB |