Sea Otters: Importance, Threats, & Conservation
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Sea Otters: Importance, Threats, & Conservation Cheyenne LaPolt Marine Biology 115 Abstract Threats Unfortunately, sea otters are exposed to quite a few threats. One of the most well- Looking at sea otters, many just think they are the cutest among our known, oil spills. Not only are oil spills horrible for our environment, but for our marine mammals. But besides that, they truly have many interesting beloved marine life. When sea otters are exposed to oil spills it severely mats their qualities and are very important to our marine ecosystem. They are fur, and restricts their bodies from performing insulation. Without being able to do very different than our other marine mammals, as sea otters have a this in order to keep themselves warm, many of them end up dying quickly from very thick insolating fur, rather than blubber. Sea otters have been hyperthermia. The toxicity of the oil also causes severe harm to their internal organs seen living in different areas all over the world, and it’s quite amazing such as kidney and liver failure, and badly damages their eyes and lungs. Another how they can adapt to all of these areas. They spend a majority of threat among sea otters is degradation of habitats. Sea otter habitats are being their time in water and have the ability to dive a few hundred feet severely harmed by pollution coming from the land into our oceans. Not only does while looking for food. These intelligent mammals are even capable this damage their homes and limit their food income, but it also infects them as of using “tools” such as rocks to help them open up shells of their well. The runoff of the pollution into our oceans also transports parasites and prey, and can catch food with their paws instead of their mouths. diseases causing more than 40% of sea otter deaths. Deadly parasites including Unfortunately, sea otter populations have been in a decline since the Toxoplasma gondii and Sacrocystis neurona. Sea otters coming in contact with early 90’s due to many different threats. Although sea otters are the humans is another major threat. Sea otters are often seen in bad encounters with smallest of our marine mammals, they are the largest of the weasel humans. Whether it’s shootings or getting trapped in fishing nets or traps. This family. Contrary of their size, they play a huge role in our causes a huge decline in their population. Sea otters eat food that many humans eat ecosystems. as well, so while humans are hunting so are the sea otters. The sea otters then find themselves in an area of threat as many fisherman find the sea otters as competition Behavior & Diet to their hunting. And sadly, sharks. Specifically Great White Sharks; have become one of the major threats to sea otters. While it’s been observed that the sharks are Sea otters are able to spend most of their lives in the water. Fig. 1: Two sea otters linked together killing the sea otters but not eating them, nobody is quite sure why at this point. The They spend a lot of their time hunting for food and diving deep https://defenders.org/sea-otter/basic-facts only known theory is that the sharks are confusing the sea otters for a creature more into our waters to search. Their diets consist of sea urchins, fish, appetizing. Regardless, this is causing a huge loss to sea otter populations in crabs, clams, and over 100 more species. They must consume Importance California, and scientists are very concerned. (defenders.org) from 25%-40% of their body weight in order to keep themselves Sea otters are a keystone species. They are needed to support and warm. They are very intelligent, as they are capable of picking secure our marine ecosystem. It’s important that their diet includes Conservation Efforts up boulders on the sea floor to look for food, and using rocks to sea urchins, as this keeps our kelp forests stable. If we didn’t have Researchers and scientists are spending a lot of time pry open shells of their prey. Different from other marine the sea otters controlling the population of sea urchins and other sea working towards finding out current and potential sea otter mammals, sea otters can catch their prey with their paws rather creatures, they would demolish our kelp forests which are the homes threats with hope to put a stop to them. The California sea than their mouths. They usually do not migrate a far distance. of many other marine animals. Not only are kelp forests important to otter fund has currently raised 3 million dollars and is still And often spend time floating on the waters surface where they our marine ecosystem, but our coasts as well. They consume a lot of increasing in donations. Created to support sea otter interlock with each other to sleep. In order to stay safe in rough detrimental carbon dioxide from our atmosphere and protect our conservation research (seaotters.com). Additionally, sea ocean waters, sea otters often move into kelp forests to tangle shores from harmful storms. (seaotters.com) themselves in the kelp so they are able to hold themselves in otters are protected under the Endangered Species Act of one place and not get wiped out from the waves. Sea otters give 1973 (ESA). This act protects endangered species and tries birth in the water, and quickly teach their young how to swim save them from extinction. Conservation is also attempted and hunt. (Poma, 2010) with the concept of reintroduction; bringing a various amount of sea otter species to past habitats attempting to breed and multiply them. This is also pursued with keeping sea otters in habitats at zoos while also studying and rehabilitating them. (seaworld.org) References Basic Facts about Sea Otters. (2016, September 19). Retrieved from https://defenders.org/sea-otter/basic-facts Elissa Leibowitz Poma, WWF Travel Manager. (2010, September 13). Ten Facts about Sea Otters. Retrieved from https://www.worldwildlife.org/blogs/good-nature-travel/posts/ten-facts-about-sea-otters Kennedy, J. (n.d.). What Do Sea Otters Eat? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-do-sea-otters-eat- 2291991 Nature Writer Releases Book on Sea Otters. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ithaca.edu/news/nature-writer- releases-book-sea-otters Sea Otter. (2018, September 21). Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/s/sea- otter/ Sea Otter Conservation. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://seaotters.com/sea-otter-conservation/ SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. (n.d.). Diet & Eating Habits. Retrieved from https://seaworld.org/en/animal- info/animal-infobooks/otters/diet-and-eating-habits Fig. 2: A sea otter holding food with it’s paws. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. (n.d.). Conservation & Research. Retrieved from https://www.worldwildlife.org/blogs/good-nature- Fig. 3: Kelp forests with and without sea otters. https://seaworld.org/en/animal-info/animal-infobooks/otters/conservation-and-research travel/posts/ten-facts-about-sea-otters Threats to Sea Otters. (2016, September 19). Retrieved from https://defenders.org/sea-otter/threats https://seaotters.com/2013/05/why-are-sea-otters-important-no-sea- Why are Sea Otters Important? No Sea Otters. No Kelp Forests. (2013, December 22). Retrieved from otters-no-kelp-forests/ RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2015 https://seaotters.com/2013/05/why-are-sea-otters-important-no-sea-otters-no-kelp-forests/ www.PosterPresentations.com.