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The study says that while there are several human-related suspects in the decline in whale numbers, such as water contaminants and noise pollution, much of the blame falls on the decline of the Fraser River Chinook salmon population.Article content However, they realized that this isn’t true, since the fish have different levels of lipid content. Fat spring-run salmon tend to be more lipid-rich, attracting the killer whales that prey on them, while salmon that come later in the season have lower energy density.
To maintain the same energy level, the total population of southern residents would have to eat roughly 80,000 more low-lipid Chinook salmon every year, than if they were eating high-lipid fish, said Lerner, a doctoral student in pelagic ecosystems at UBC. Although the study mainly centres on killer whales and their favourite prey, Lerner said it also highlights how climate change has an effect on the entire food web.
Such bs. Literally millions swim by them every year. That ain’t it.
That is why we need salmon back in the Columbia, build the elevators, stairs cannons. Whatever needed to get salmon over the dams to bring this fishery back!