Population Levels and Reproductive Performance of Murres Based on Observations atBreeding Colonies Four Years After the EXXON VALDEZ Oil Spill. Restoration Study Number 11. EXXON VALDEZ Oil Spill State/Federal Natural Resource Damage Assessment Final Repo

摘要

An assessment of the damage to murre populations and reproductive performance dueto the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill was conducted from 1989 to 1991. In 1992, we continued monitoring these parameters at three murre (Uria aalge and U. lomvia) nesting colonies located in the path of the oil in an effort to begin measuring recovery. Numbers of murres were significantly reduced at all three study colonies following the spill. We found no recovery to prespill numbers. Timing of breeding and productivity of murres at the Barren Islands and Puale Bay returned to near normal levels in 1992.