Surveys for Beached Marine Mammal and Seabird Carcasses: Annual Progress Report 2006
Holm G. 2006. Surveys for Beached Marine Mammal and Seabird Carcasses: Annual Progress Report 2006. Redwood National and State Parks
Excerpts: "Beached carcass surveys are performed to ascertain baseline information about seabird and marine mammal mortality that occurs along portions of the Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) coastline. The main objectives are to gather trend data on mortalities, and dermine whether the mortalities resulted from natural or anthropogenic events. Documenting natural mortalities can help biologists monitor events such as the expected deaths of post-fledgling and adult breeding seabirds, fatal injuries from predation and other natural hazards, and diseases in a population. Also, population effects of natural events (e.g. El Nino) can be monitored more effectively." The surveys include collecting data about petroleum products on carcasses, entanglement in fishing gear, and entanglement in human trash (plastic bags and six-pack rings). Surveys were not conducted in the winter months of 2006. "An effort was made to survey all RNSP beaches once per month during March through October 2006. However, due to inclement weather only two beach sections were surveyed during March (South Gold Bluffs, Freshwater Spit)." Peak carcass count occured in October. An average of 7.1 carcasses were detected per hour of survey effort. Carcasses included 599 birds (common murre was most common); 17 seals and sea lions; 3 harbor porpoises; and 1 skate. Of note, one live elephant seal was seen. Overall, there was a 46% decrease in the total # of carcasses detected compared to 2005, but 2005 had the highest totals of any year in which data has been collected. Compared to the past 5 years of surveys, there was only a 10% increase in the total number of carcasses in 2006. This report includes information on methods; species of birds and marine mammals detected; conclusions; future survey recommendations; and references. Includes graphs of survey effort 2002-06; total number of carcasses detected 2002-06; number of carcasses detected per hour of survey effort 2002-06; table of numbers of species/groups of carcasses. Appendices include maps of beach stretches surveyed, beach carcass survey protocol, and a blank data form.
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Authors
- Holm, Greg
- Date of Issue
- 2006-12-19
- Publisher
- Redwood National and State Parks
- Units
- REDW
- Keywords
- Abundance (Biodiversity), Animal Studies, Aves (Birds), beach carcass survey, Beach Survey, Bird, Death, Distribution (Biodiversity), Human Impact, Mammal, Mammalia (Mammals), Marine Birds, Marine Mammals, Monitoring, Mortality, Oil, Presence (Biodiversity), Progress Report, Research, Seabirds, Survey, Taxa Links To References, Whale, Wildlife