January 4, 2011
Principal Investigator: Karen Martien, Marine Mammal Genetics Group
Hawiian insular false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) were recently proposed for a listing of 'endangered' under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. In addition, false killer whales are the subjects of a Take Reduction Team (TRT) tasked with developing strategies for reducing the number of animals taken in fisheries in the Hawaiian exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Photo-identification data (Baird et al. 2008) and a genetic study of mitochondrial sequence data (Chivers et al. 2007) resulted in the designation of separate insular and pelagic stocks of false killer whales in the Hawaiian EEZ. An on-going genetic study has expanded the dataset of Chivers et al. through the addition of more samples and 16 nuclear microsatellite markers (Chivers et al. 2010). The aim of the current study is to address the evolutionary significance of the Hawaiian Insular population to inform the decision of whether to list them as endangered and the efforts of the TRT.
Learn more:
Cascadia Research Collective's false killer whale page.
Status review of Hawaiian insular false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) under the Endangered Species Act (report of the Biological Review Team).
Baird, R.W., A.M. Gorgone, D.J. McSweeney, D.L. Webster, D.R. Salden, M.H. Deakos, A.D. Ligon, G.S. Schorr, J. Barlow and S.D. Mahaffy. 2008. False killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) around the main Hawaiian Islands: long-term site fidelity, inter-island movements, and association patterns. Marine Mammal Science 24:591-612.
Baird, R.W. 2010. A review of false killer whales in Hawaiian waters: biology, status, and risk factors. Report prepared for the U.S. Marine Mammal Commision under Order No. E40475499. 49pp.
Chivers, S.J., R.W. Baird, D.J. McSweeney, D.L. Webster, N.M. Hedrick and J.C. Salinas. 2007. Genetic variation and evidence for population structure in eastern North Pacific false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens). Canadian Journal of Zoology 85:783-794.
Chivers, S.J., R.W. Baird, K.K. Martien, B.L. Taylor, E. Archer, A.M. Gorgone, B.L. Hancock, N.M. Hedrick, D. Matilla, D.J. McSweeney, E.M. Oleson, C.L. Palmer, V. Pease, K.M. Robertson, J. Robbins, J.C. Salinas, G.S. Schorr, M. Schultz, J.L. Thieleking, and D.L. Webster. Evidence of genetic differeitation for Hawaiæi Insular false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens). NOAA Technical Memorandum 458. 49pp.