Why Are Sea Otters Important? The urchins can destroy the kelp forest. Sea otter pups are born in water and float like corks, but they cannot swim for several weeks. Places such as British Columbia, Aleutian Islands, and the Big Sur coast of California have had major improvements in the health of their coastal ecosystems due to the re-introduction of otters. Want to watch cute sea otters romp, wrestle and play every day of the year? Sea otters are considered the "old man of the sea" because of their fabulous whiskers! After eating, they wash themselves in the ocean, cleaning their coat with their teeth and paws. When present in healthy numbers, they keep sea urchin populations in check. Sea otters are also considered a sentinel species because their health reflects that of California’s coastal waters. Studies show that the presence of otters increased the carbon storage of kelp forests from 4.4 to 8.7 megatons. They eat sea urchins and other invertebrates that graze on giant kelp. The team brings it to the sea. Sea otters are the most recently evolved marine mammals and have a number of physiological characteristics that make them an easy target for disturbance by humans. Sea otter use a variety of strategies for finding their food. Without sea otters, these grazing animals can destroy kelp forests and consequently the wide diversity of animals that depend upon kelp habitat for survival. by seaottersdotcom | May 23, 2013 | sea otters. Seagrass meadows are significant to the ecosystem as they result in the protection of the coastal regions and preservation of the habitat for fish. Researchers recently tested how sea otters distinguish objects with the sense of touch. Thus, to survive the cold temperatures and maintain warmth, the sea otters feed on food amounting to an average of 25% of their body weight every day. Otters are crucial in keeping kelp forests healthy and thriving. Since they like to eat some of the same foods, like sea urchins, lobsters and crabs, they are near those same areas where fishermen are. The urchins chew off the anchors that keep the kelp in place, causing them to die and float away, setting off a chain reaction that depletes the food supply for other marine animals causing their numbers to decline. They are adapted to this kind of environment by possessing a dense fur coat which insulates the body from cold. Economic Importance. Sea otters are critical to maintaining the balance of the near-shore kelp ecosystems. Sea otters are vital to kelp forest ecosystems because they control communities of sea urchins, which are herbivorous invertebrates that if left unmonitored overgraze and potentially destroy the kelp forest (Allegra, Rath and Gunderson, 2012). Besides existing in the wild, otters are also raised in captivity like public aquariums and zoos. Sea otters are also considered an apex predator in their estuary habitat, eating not only urchins but a variety of mollusks and crustaceans—including crabs. Such an increase is a result of the food web that forms within this ecosystem formed by the sea otters, crabs, and sea slugs. Urchin barrens are disastrous to the environment as they result in an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the likelihood of coastal erosion and storm surges. However, this is not enough to keep the sea otters warm. Here are some viewing tips to help you enjoy watching sea otters and other marine wildlife in a safe and responsible way. Hughes said one of the reasons otter habitat has remained fragmented and why sea otters have not been able to migrate north and reestablish residency in San Francisco Bay is the presence of great white sharks near the Golden Gate. Sea otters are an iconic species, representing the beauty and diversity of marine life found along California’s coastline. Sea otters have a very high metabolic rate and must consume the equivalent of 20 to 30 % of their body weight per day to maintain their body heat. We don’t want to be inadvertently killing them with our cars. They can hold hands! Sea otters aren’t just cute – these fuzzy marine mammals also perform an important role protecting the kelp forests which maintain our climate and prevent storm damage. This turn can have devastating effects on marine life diversity. Sea otters are a keystone species, meaning their role in their environment has a greater effect than other species. noaasanctuaries: Sea otters are what’s known as a keystone species: their foraging and feeding behaviors have a major effect on the health of their ecosystem. Sea otters are a very important keystone species that are highly endangered. Photograph: Noel Hendrickson/Getty Images. They have furry bodies, whiskered faces, and a propensity to lay on their backs and float on the water, a behavior that humans perceive as evidence of fun-loving. Their populations are significantly impacted by several human factors. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are not like other marine mammals. Can otters use tools? Case study: Sea Otters →Crabs → Sea Slugs → Micro Algae → Eelgrass A new trophic cascade involving sea otters was recently discovered in a Central California estuary. These filter feeders indiscriminately sieve particles out of the water resulting in them accumulating high concentrations of pollutants and disease pathogens. Sea otters have low genetic diversity, which could endanger their health as a species, a UCLA-led team of life scientists has discovered. As urchin density decreases from sea otter predation, so does the grazing pressure on kelp and as a result kelp forests flourish in the presence of sea otters. The endemic species of Smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli) is also present in Sea otters, in turn, are equally voracious predators of sea urchins. In Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, sea otters often spend their time in kelp forests, where they feed on invertebrates like sea urchins. 3. Otter enrichment is important because it keeps them active and learning while playing all day. Sea otters aren’t just cute – these fuzzy marine mammals also perform an important role protecting the kelp forests which maintain our climate and prevent storm damage. The ‘’Exxon Valdez’ oil disaster that occurred in Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989, proved that the single greatest threat to the otter today is an oil spill. A keystone species is one that exerts a large, stabilizing influence throughout an ecological community. They have thick fur that generates heat to keep their bodies warm. Thirdly, sea otters expose themselves to diseases and pollutants through their feeding habits. Crude oil normally penetrates the fur of the otter destroying the air layer that is trapped next to its skin. Sea otters play an important role in maintaining kelp beds because they eat sea urchins, which can destroy kelp if their populations get too big. Otters are found on all continents except Antarctica and Australasia. A keystone species is one that exerts a large, stabilizing influence throughout an ecological community. In the kelp forest, it eats sea urchins and other animals that graze on giant kelp. The grazers in turn kept the eelgrass blades clean and healthy. Sea otters are some of the cutest and most social critters in the ocean … but this hasn’t saved them from threats like oil spills, pollution and climate change. In the kelp forest, it eats sea urchins and other animals that graze on giant kelp. They’re also considered a keystone species because of their critical importance to the health and stability of the nearshore marine ecosystem. Without sea otters, sea urchins can overpopulate the sea floor and devour the kelp forests that provide cover and food for many other marine animals. Let’s take a look at the Eurasian … The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semiaquatic mammal in the weasel family.While it may simply be called the "river otter" in North America (to distinguish it from the sea otter) there are other river otter species throughout the world. Keystone species are species in an ecosystem thatare not necessarily abundant, but those that other species greatly depend on. Sea otters have strong effects on prey communities and sea otter numbers and behavior reflect habitat conditions; because of these features, sea otters are particularly useful indicators of ecosystem status. When they discovered Sea otters off California in the thirties it was like they discovered dinosaurs, because they thought they were extinct. Held every year during the last week in September, Sea Otter Awareness Week spotlights the important role of sea otters in … To achieve this, the sea otters that are carnivorous feed on various marine species such as crabs, clams, urchins, snails, and worms. For more information on these species click hereAll are declining in number except the North American river otter which is regarded as stable. Sea otters are an important keystone species in the marine system. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are marine mammals inhabiting the shores of the Aleutian Islands and along the North American coast up to Mexico. Sea otters are endangered because they have been hunted for their fur since the 1700-1800s. The specific role of the sea otters in the eco-system is as follows; 1. Why are sea otters so important to California’s marine ecosystems? Sea otters By: Rhiannon Martin, Mackenzie Gatton, and Dallas Haase 2. In the past there have been many problems including hunting for fur and pollution. Secondly, oil spills result in the death of sea otters. Sea otters spend all of their time in the ocean, including sleeping. But the animals have not naturally repopulated to Oregon in the time since. The recovery of the sea otter is considered an important success in marine conservation, although populations in the Aleutian Islands and California have recently declined or have plateaued at depressed levels. Otters are also found south of the Caspian Sea in the Golestan province. There are 13 species of otter in the world and they are all in the Red List of Threatened Species. But Estes didn’t understand the real meaning of what he’d seen until a meeting with veteran ecologist Bob Paine. People affect sea otter populations through direct shootings and trapping sea otters in fishing nets. It was hard narrowing everything people needed to know about sea otters to three main topics, but I needed to get the word out that sea otters are endangered. Since they must sleep at the surface, they often wrap themselves in giant kelp to keep from floating away. Otters are crucial in keeping kelp forests healthy and thriving. Sea otters feed mostly on sea urchins, mollusks, crustaceans, and fish. He would go on to realize that sea otters are a keystone predator that increases the abundance of a diverse array of sea life. As top predators, sea otters are critical to maintaining the balance of nearshore ecosystems, such as kelp forests, embayments and estuaries. When present in healthy numbers, sea otters keep sea urchin populations in check. Learn more about these cute and charismatic critters. What Is The Role Of Vultures In The Ecosystem And Wildlife Conservation? Sea otters are ‘’keystone species” because of their critical role in maintaining the health and stability of the nearshore marine ecosystems. Since they have to consume at least 25% of their body weight each day to stay alive, sea otters prey on filter feeders such as mussels and clams. Prior to 1911, sea otters (Enhydra lutris) were largely extirpated from southeastern Alaska by the Pacific maritime fur trade industry.In 1965, sea otters were translocated from Amchitka Island (Aleutian Islands) to the outer coast of southeastern Alaska and by the early 1990's, small numbers of sea otters were documented at the mouth of Glacier Bay. Why are sea otters so important? Sea otters are an iconic species, representing the beauty and diversity of marine life found along California’s coastline. In this manner, sea otters are keystone predators in the kelp forests where they live. Eventually, the seagrasses become clean and healthy resulting in higher populations. Some predators like the great white shark may kill the otters but not feed on them. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal living near the shores of the North Pacific, from northern Japan, the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka east across the Aleutian Islands and along the North American coast to Mexico.It has the thickest fur in the animal kingdom. This challenge has affected even large estuaries such as the Elkhorn Slough Estuary located on Monterey Bay in Central California, US. Sea otters are a very important keystone species that are highly endangered. Sea otters have altered ecosystems, making it more difficult for commercial fisherman to catch abalone, clams, Dungeness crabs, red sea urchins and other invertebrates the otters consume. Sea otters were successfully reintroduced to California, Washington, British Columbia and southeast Alaska 50 years ago. California Condor Facts: Animals Of North America, The Causes And Effects Of Ocean Pollution. Sea otters are very playful and busy so they need a lot of activities. When otters are not around, the urchin population can get too big. By controlling sea urchin populations, sea otters promote giant kelp growth, as that species is a favorite of sea urchin grazers. They are not at the top of the food web, however, and are eaten by orcas, great white sharks and other large predators. Among the widespread species of seagrasses is the Zostera, also known as the eelgrass that has been on the decline in the recent past due to the large population of crabs that have been feeding on them. But when sea otters decline, urchin numbers explode and grab onto kelp like flies on honey. And, even if you live far from the Pacific Ocean, that matters to you because kelp forests are one of the ocean’s great carbon sinks; they help mitigate the effects of climate change. Grazers flourish collect important slides you want to go back to later front paws for flippers males are polygynous they... 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