Three killer whales swimming near the surface of the water.

Letter in Science identifies the contradiction between protecting economic growth and biodiversity in Canada’s Fraser River Estuary 

The letter, asking whether Canada will permit killer whale extinction, identifies Canada’s conflicting aspirations and obligations to protect biodiversity while continuing to permit megaprojects that destroy the critical habitat of threatened and endangered species.

Reduced genetic diversity: another challenge facing the Southern Resident killer whales?

Reduced genetic diversity: another challenge facing the Southern Resident killer whales?

As charismatic mega-predators, killer whales have no equal. Historically feared, respected, in some cultures revered, we now know them to be intelligent and highly social. They also have  fascinatingly strong ideas about what constitutes food, with different populations having vastly different preferred prey.  Not surprisingly, then, the plight of the critically endangered salmon-eating Southern Resident…