A multi-aspect collaborative project on Killer Whales around continental southern Africa
Killer whales are one of the ocean’s most iconic species, capturing scientific and public interest alike. However, compared with other parts of the world, these animals are severely understudied across southern Africa. In our attempt to change this, we’re leading a multi-aspect, collaborative project on killer whales to establish a baseline of scientific understanding to benefit conservation and management regimes
Long-Term Killer Whale Behaviour & Ecology Monitoring. Studying long-term changes in killer whale behaviour and ecology through the collation of sightings, movements and predation records around Southern Africa, including interactions with the long-line industry.
Southern African Killer Whale Photo-ID Catalogue. Collating a 'national' catalogue of killer whales using photographic identification images collected from research vessels, collaborators and opportunistic sightings. Again – we welcome any and all contributions!
Killer Whale Genetics, Diet & Pollutant Load Project. Coordinating efforts around the Western Cape to collect skin samples for analysis as part of a broader consortium studying the genetics, diet and pollutant loads of killer whales globally, but with a focus on the southern African subregion and associated sub-Antarctic Islands – Collaboration with the Marion Island Marine Mammal Project (Nico De Bruyn, Ryan Reisinger and Rowan Jordaan), Rus Hoelzel (Durham University, UK), DEFF (Mdu Seakamela and team), MRI Whale Unit, and other local partners including Simon's Town Boat Company, and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust.
Sea Search Publication about killer whales and other blackfish
Killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the Indo-Pacific: a review of their distribution, population structure, and ecology. Lacetera, P., P. Tixier, I.M. Reeves, , M. Terrapon, A.Barnes, C, Guinet, S.H.Elwen,J. Totterdell, J. Tucker, P. Cross, G. K. Bisset,J. Dickie and J.P.Y. Arnould. .Mammal Review 56 (3), e70046
Genomic Structure and Demographic History of the Brown Fur Seal: From the Ice Age to Current Isolation. Spanjaard CA, Malan A, Gridley T, Arnould JPY, Kirkwood R & Matthee CA. Journal of Biogeography.
Whale killers on the coast of South Africa: killer whale predation on a humpback whale super-group. Seyboth E, Wilkinson C, Elwen SH, Barnes A & Vermeulen E. African Journal of Marine Science.
Direct observation of killer whales predating on white sharks and evidence of a flight response. Towner A, Kock A, Stopforth C, Hurwitz D & Elwen SH. Ecology. (Watch related video)
Fear at the top: killer whale predation drives white shark absence at South Africa's largest aggregation site. Towner A, Watson RGA, Kock AA, et al. African Journal of Marine Science.
False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) sightings in continental shelf habitat off Gabon and Côte d'Ivoire (Africa) Weir CR, Collins T, Cross T, Gill A, Elwen SH, Unwin M & Parnell RJ. (2013). Marine Biodiversity Records, 6, e65.
Interactions between leatherback turtles and killer whales in Namibian waters, including predation Elwen SH & Leeney RH. (2011). South African Journal of Wildlife Research, 41(2), 205–209
PhD Project– Aaron Barnes MSc (Stellenbosch University) Population structure, dietary variation, demographics and ecological impacts of southern African and the Southwest Indian Ocean killer whales
Aaron’s PhD project aims to establish a baseline of knowledge on killer whale biology around southern Africa, extending to the sub-Antarctic Islands of the Indian Ocean. His project aims to explore key biological factors that explain large components of killer whale distribution, diets and use of ecosystems. Aaron will include investigations into genetic connectivity and diversity, contemporary diet assessments using stable isotopes derived from biopsies, historical diet through the drilling of killer whale teeth for stable isotopes, the role of tuna and other species stolen from fishing gear in killer whale diets, a comparison of photo-identification catalogues between all areas included in his study, and lastly to model the ecological effects of the competition between humans and killer whales for tuna within the ecosystems found within South Africa’s fishing grounds.
MSc Project– Lindiwe Makapela BSc Hons (Stellenbosch University) Understanding marine mammal interactions with two commercial long-line fisheries to develop mitigation solutions
Lindiwe’s MSc project is split between killer whales and Cape Fur Seals, focusing on the tuna and hake fisheries, respectively. Specifically, she aims to investigate and quantify killer whale depredation and trends on large pelagic longline fisheries over the past two decades and to understand the operational (related to fishing behaviours and effort) and environmental (related to the natural ecology of marine mammals and the environmental conditions) factors driving variation
