Ecological Impacts of Cumulative Anthropogenic Threats on Coastal Apex Predators

The cumulative effects of human activitiessuch as fishing, shipping, and pollutant dischargecan have profound impacts on coastal marine ecosystems. Apex predators can serve as reliable indicators of ecosystem health due to their vulnerability to disturbances. This paper takes the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) along the northeastern Pacific coast of North America as a case study to analyze how the accumulation of human activities poses threats to the ecology of apex predators. The results indicate that food scarcity, vessel disturbance, and pollutant accumulation are the primary factors affecting the SRKW population; moreover, the cumulative nature of these stressors further exacerbates the burden on the ecosystem. By regulating fishing practices, reducing vessel noise, and controlling pollutant emissions, the adverse effects of human activities can be mitigated. This paper is expected to provide valuable insights for informing conservation strategies and guiding future development along more ecologically friendly trajectories for coastal ecosystems.