Evaluating the Cumulative Impact of Multiple Stressors on Cetaceans
Implementing Organization
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$3,726,690
Known Leveraged Funding
$0
Funding Organization
Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees (NRDA)
Funding Program
Natural Resource Damage Assessment NRDA
Details
Project Category
Science
Project Actions
Monitoring and Observations
Targeted Resources
Other
Project Description
This monitoring and adaptive management (MAM) activity will develop models of the effects of multiple interacting stressors on sperm whale and oceanic dolphin stocks that were injured during the DWH oil spill. The models will initially be used to identify critical information gaps, which will guide planning of monitoring and adaptive management activities to be carried out in Phase 2 and enable refinement of the models. The refined models will be used to estimate the effects of restoration actions on the injured stocks, enabling better prioritization of potential restoration activities and evaluation of the effectiveness of completed and ongoing restoration activities. During Phase 1, the models will be developed based on a comprehensive analysis of the scientific literature. Initial estimates of model parameters and their uncertainty will be determined through expert elicitation. The parameters that contribute the most uncertainty to model results will be identified through sensitivity analyses, and an initial set of field studies will be planned to address the data gaps that contribute to that uncertainty. As part of the adaptive management of this MAM activity, the cost of the field studies will be evaluated against the benefits of the refined model estimates they would enable prior to committing to carry them out in Phase 2.
Contact
Lance Garrison(305) 361-4488
lance.garrison@noaa.gov
Project Website
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