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Killer whales : the natural history and genealogy of Orcinus orca in British Columbia and Washington State / John K.B. Ford, Graeme M. Ellis, and Kenneth C. Balcomb.
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Ford, John K. B.
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Killer whale--British Columbia.
- Killer whale.
- Killer whale--Washington (State).
- Physical Description:
- 1 online resource (105 p.)
- Edition:
- 2nd ed.
- Place of Publication:
- Vancouver, BC : UBC Press ; Seattle : University of Washington Press, c1994.
- Language Note:
- English
- Summary:
- Watching killer whales in the wild in British Columbia andWashington is a popular recreational activity. Nothing quite matchesthe thrill of witnessing a pod of these immense creatures cuttingthrough the waters of Johnstone Strait or listening to their stridentunderwater calls to each other in their own dialect. This new edition of this best-selling book presents updated resultsof over twenty-five years of killer whale research in British Columbiaand Washington. Intended for both whale enthusiasts and researchers, itcontains the latest information on killer whale natural history andpresents a catalogue of close to 300 photographs of"resident" killer whales as well as a genealogical registrythat enables readers to identify individual killer whales and theirfamily groups. The technique of photographing the dorsal fin and greysaddle patch of whales has revolutionized the study of killer whales,allowing researchers to follow individuals over the course of manyyears. Also new in this edition is the latest information on the status andfuture prospects of west coast killer whales -- how they may beaffected by declining salmon stocks, high levels of toxic chemicals intheir tissue, and increasing vessel traffic and underwater noise. Whalewatchers will particularly appreciate revised suggestions andguidelines on how to view whales in the wild without disturbingthem.
- Contents:
- ""Contents""; ""Preface and Acknowledgments""; ""Our Changing Relationship with the Killer Whale""; ""The Development of Our Study""; ""Natural History of the Killer Whale""; ""Distinct Populations: Residents, Transients, and Offshores""; ""Different Lifestyles""; ""Dialects and Population Identity""; ""Population Parameters""; ""Resident Killer Whale Societies""; ""Definitions of Social Structure""; ""Watching Killer Whales""; ""Land-Based Whale Watching""; ""Vessel-Based Whale Watching""; ""Interpreting Whale Activities and Behaviours""; ""Does Watching Whales Bother Them?""
- ""Catalogue of Resident Killer Whales""""The Naming System""; ""How Whales Are Identified""; ""Catalogue Organization""; ""Sex and Years of Birth and Death""; ""Northern Resident Community""; ""Southern Resident Community""; ""Catalogue""; ""Conservation Concerns and Future Prospects for Killer Whales""; ""Food Supply""; ""Environmental Contaminants""; ""Vessel Disturbance""; ""Population Status and Future Outlook""; ""Glossary""; ""Bibliography""; ""Other Resources""; ""Photographic Credits""; ""Sidebars""; ""Killer Whales as Nuisances""
- ""Distinguishing Resident, Transient, and Offshore Killer Whales""""Distinguishing Males and Females""; ""Whale-Watching Tours""; ""How to Behave around Killer Whales""; ""Changing Features of Fins and Saddles""; ""Killer Whales, Ships, and Care-Giving Behaviour""; ""Orcinus orca: The Killer Dolphin""; ""Wanted: ID Photos and Observations""; ""Eavesdropping on Killer Whales""; ""Communication and Echolocation""; ""Genetic Testing: Shedding New Light on Killer Whale Biology""
- Notes:
- Description based upon print version of record.
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 100).
- ISBN:
- 0-7748-5244-5
- OCLC:
- 923446541
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