Ecology of Hawaiian marine mammals emphasizing the impact of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) on endangered species
Twenty-two marine mammal species including 2 baleen whales, 20 toothed whales, and one pinniped occur in Hawaiian waters. Among these are two endangered species, the migratory humpback whale (Megaptera novaengliae) around the main islands, and the non-migratory Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) in the extreme northwestern island chain. The endangered species are among those most commonly sighted, while spinner dolphins (Stenella spp.), bottle-nosed dolphins (Tursiops sp.), and false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) are sighted less frequently. Most Hawaiian cetacean species are Odontoceti, or toothed whales, and feed on fish and squid. The Mysteceti or baleen whales feed on plankton, however the endangered humpback whale, which migrates to Hawaii to breed and calve, presumably does not feed there. The endangered monk seal feeds on cephalopods and fish. The impact of OTEC on endangered and non-endangered marine mammals results from several direct and indirect effects and is discussed in the text. Careful siting of OTEC plants away from humpback breeding areas and monk seal breeding and feeding areas will avoid adverse effects on these populations.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 5391743
- Report Number(s):
- LBL-14555; ON: DE84004405
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
OCEAN THERMAL POWER PLANTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
CETACEANS
ENDANGERED SPECIES
HAWAII
SEAWATER
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
FEDERAL REGION IX
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER PLANTS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
USA
VERTEBRATES
WATER
140400* - Solar Energy- Environmental Aspects
140800 - Solar Energy- Ocean Energy Systems
520500 - Environment
Aquatic- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)