This research develops a 4D agent-based model to simulate southern resident killer whales' behavior in the Salish Sea, suggesting improved conservation strategies.
The Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) are an endangered species that occupy marine environments on the west coast of North America, including the Salish Sea. Representing marine species in this environment can be achieved by multidimensional space–time simulation modeling that provides more information about locations and behaviors for use in protection and preservation strategies. In this study, the main objectives are: (a) design and implement a prototype four‐dimensional (4D) agent‐based model (ABM) to simulate marine species, (b) implement the model to represent SRKW's J Pod in the Salish Sea, and (c) investigate their 3D movements considering bathymetry, vessel noise, and prey–predator relationships with Chinook salmon. The simulation results indicate the SRKW are often present around the San Juan Islands, and the model locations correlate with real data on reported sightings, prey availability, and low vessel noise. The developed methodology can be used to further inform and improve marine conservation and management practices.
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Smith et al. (2025) studied this question.
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