Marine mammals of Kotzebue Sound
Frost KJ and Lowry LF. 1988. Marine mammals of Kotzebue Sound. Pages 121-126. In Frost KJ and Lowry LF. Proceedings of the 1987 Arctic Information Transfer Meeting Conference, November 17-20, 1987, Anchorage, AK. Anchorage, AK. MMS Report
This Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game conference presentation gives a brief overview of the marine mammals, including three species of seals; walruses; polar bears; harbor porpoises; and five species of whales found in Kotzebue Sound and adjacent waters. The presentation centers on the three major marine mammal species found in the region: ringed seals, Belukha whales, and spotted seals. Population numbers from 1986 and 1987 aerial surveys are presented and commentary on food habits is provided. There were from 45,000 to 59,000 ringed seals present in total in the area of the Bering and Chukchi Seas near Kotzebue; about 750 Belukha whales were seen, and this represents a low from historic highs; and about 450 spotted seals were seen. Ringed seals are abundant in the area during winter and early spring, Belukha whales are usually common during summer, and spotted seals appear in large numbers in summer and fall. The remaining species are generally short-term visitors or occur in very low numbers.
- Type
- Book Chapter
- Authors
- Frost, Kathryn; Lowry, Lloyd
- Units
- BELA , CAKR
- Keywords
- Aerial Surveys, Beluga whales, Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Delphinapterus leucas, Distribution, Kotzebue Sound, Marine Mammals, Phoca hispida, Phoca largha, Population, ringed seals, Spotted seals