[CINC] Fwd: New post] What’s the Bigg’s Deal?!

Tue Apr 23 16:52:17 PDT 2013

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Gina Ruttle <markruttle at mac.com>
> Date: April 4, 2013, 10:34:11 PM GMT+08:00
> To: Ruttle Mark <markruttle at mac.com>
> Subject: New post] What’s the Bigg’s Deal?!
> 
> From Our friend the Marine Detective....
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> Begin forwarded message:
> 
>> From: The Marine Detective <comment-reply at wordpress.com>
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Respond to this post by replying above this line
>> New post on The Marine Detective
>>  												
>> 
>> What’s the Bigg’s Deal?!
>> by The Marine Detective 																		
>> 
>> 
>> What’s the Bigg’s Deal?  I’ve been asked this a lot lately: “Why are the mammal-hunting killer whales being referenced as “Bigg’s killer whales” rather than as “transients” as they were previously known?”
>> 
>> This is because a 2010 study found that the mammal-hunting ecotype of killer whales diverged from the other ecotypes some 700,000 years ago and the researchers (Morin et al) put forward that they be recognized as a distinct species.
>> 
>> If they are to be recognized as such, many in whale-research-world believe it is only appropriate that the species be named in honour of the late and great Dr. Michael Bigg whose pioneering killer whale ID research in the eastern North Pacific in the 1970s - 1980s revealed that killer whales have distinct populations and that there are very limited numbers within these populations.
>> 
>> Ultimately, his research led to the understanding that that killer whale populations have distinct cultures.
>> 
>> This knowledge of course had huge conservation implications. It was previously believed that there were abundant killer whales in the eastern North Pacific and that they all ate salmon in addition to marine mammals; rather than the reality that there are 4 at risk populations that are genetically and ecologically distinct:
>> 
>> Bigg’s killer whales - marine mammal-hunters (with an occasional bird or, rarely, a terrestrial mammal). Population estimate: 270 inner coast with research ongoing regarding population numbers of mammal-hunters more often further off the coast. Threatened population - status report and further information here.
>> "Residents" - inshore fish-eaters; predominantly salmon - and of the salmon in their diet, the majority is Chinook.  
>> Offshores - offshore fish-eaters often found along the continental shelf from the Aleutian Islands to California; research ongoing but diet found to include Pacific sleeper sharks and Pacific halibut (NOT salmon). Population estimate: 240 to 340. Threatened population - status report and further information here.
>> - Northern "residents" -  more often found in northern British Columbia but also in southeastern Alaska and Washington State. Population estimate  260. Threatened population - status report and further information here.
>> 
>> - Southern “residents” - mainly in southern British Columbia and Washington State but also in northern British Columbia, Oregon and California. Population: 87. Endangered population - status report and further information here.
>> 
>> Offshores - offshore fish-eaters often found along the continental shelf from the Aleutian Islands to California; research ongoing but diet found to include Pacific sleeper sharks and Pacific halibut (NOT salmon). Population estimate: 240 to 340. Threatened population - status report and further information here. 
>> Due to the research of Dr. Bigg, the killer whales of British Columbia have been studied as individuals longer than any other marine mammal species on the planet - and not only marine species have benefited from this. We all have.
>> 
>> Due to his work, whereby the age, gender, diet and range is known for almost every killer whale in British Columbia, the killer whales of British Columbia "tell the story" of global chemical pollution. The work of Dr. Peter Ross examines the toxins in the blubber and indeed the killer whales of BC are the "canaries in the coal mine" informing the science that should shape international policies and regulations regarding toxins.
>> 
>> However, there is also much that has NOT changed since the days of Dr. Bigg's pioneering killer whale research. 
>> 
>> Dr. Michael Bigg was thwarted in his research efforts by government forces within what was then the Department of Fisheries. Killer whales were the scapegoat for declining salmon populations and the "gold rush" on their being put into captivity was likely perceived as a favourable management tool.  Conservation costs money, not only for science and management, but also by constraining industries whose activities may negatively impact species at risk.
>> 
>> Flash forward some 40 years to 2013. Dr. Peter Ross' employment with what is now Fisheries and Oceans has been terminated as part of what can only be called the demise of Canada's ocean contaminants research program and prior to his termination, he like so many other government scientists in Canada, has been constrained in being able to communicate about his research.
>> 
>> The ultimate Bigg's Deal is that one person can make a profound positive difference - replacing knowledge where fear and misunderstanding once dwelled.
>> 
>> However, to work against government forces that imperil our environment and suppress science in favour of short-term economic gain, it is going to take a very great many of us to make our voices and actions . . . Bigg-er. 
>> 
>> For more information:
>> 
>> Bundling of news items related to the muzzling of Canadian scientists. 
>> BC Cetacean Sightings Network; December 18, 2012; "What's in a name?"
>> Morin PA, Archer FI, Foote AD, Vilstrup J, Allen EE, Wade P, Durban J, Parsons K, Pitman R, Li L, Bouffard P, Abel Nielsen SC, Rasmussen M, Willerslev E, Gilbert MTP, Harkins T. Complete mitochondrial genome phylogeographic analysis of killer whales (Orcinus orca) indicates multiple species. Genome Res, doi:10.1101/gr.102954.109
>> Riesch R, Barrett-Lennard LG, Ellis GM, Ford JKB and Deecke VB (2012) Cultural traditions and the evolution of reproductive isolation: ecological speciation in killer whales? Biol J Linn Soc 106(1):1–17, DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2012.01872.x
>> 
>> 
>> The Marine Detective | April 3, 2013 at 7:33 pm | Tags: Bigg's killer whales, killer whales, orca, transient killer whales | Categories: Killer whales / orca | URL: http://wp.me/pPW6V-RU
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