why are sea otters important

Why are sea otters so important to California’s marine ecosystems? Coveted for their extremely dense and insulating fur, sea otter pelts sold for as much as $1,125 each and were made into hats, coats and various other garments. For more information on these species click hereAll are declining in number except the North American river otter which is regarded as stable. On land, the otters face threats from bears and coyotes. For these reasons, the sea otter remains classified as an endangered species. Why are we monitoring? The specific role of the sea otters in the eco-system is as follows; 1. They provide crucial habitat and food for other marine organisms and also help to contain coastal erosion. Her survey found the most important factor in how indigenous communities felt about the sea otter’s recovery was the extent to which they felt agency or inclusion in decision-making. Studies show that the presence of otters increased the carbon storage of kelp forests from 4.4 to 8.7 megatons. The Deep Sea Ecosystem: Life In The Dark And Cold Waters. Additionally, kelp forests protect coastlines from storm surge and absorb vast amounts of harmful carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In the kelp forest, it eats sea urchins and other animals that graze on giant kelp. Their populations are significantly impacted by several human factors. But Estes didn’t understand the real meaning of what he’d seen until a meeting with veteran ecologist Bob Paine. They’re also considered a keystone species because of their critical importance to the health and stability of the nearshore marine ecosystem. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2021 worldatlas.com. Sea otters are an iconic species, representing the beauty and diversity of marine life found along California’s coastline. 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. In particular, they … Did you know sea otters have built in pouches of loose skin under their forearms to stash extra prey when diving? When sea otters are underwater foraging for food, they make use of the loose skin under their armpits, using the area like pockets to store food as they continue their search. Sea otters mate, sleep, groom, hunt, give birth, rest and play in the ocean! This is an area of the sea without kelp forest cover. A keystone species is one that exerts a large, stabilizing influence throughout an ecological community. The endemic species of Smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli) is also present in In this manner, sea otters are keystone predators in the kelp forests where they live. The sea otter is an important part of both of these habitats — It’s a keystone species, which means that the health of sea otters is a good indication of the health of other species and ecosystems nearby. 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. Since they must sleep at the surface, they often wrap themselves in giant kelp to keep from floating away. The males are polygynous as they may take up multiple female partners. 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. Nonetheless, the managers of this estuary have recently reintroduced sea otters that have resulted in the sudden increase in the seagrass beds. Furthermore, countries such as the United States, Russia, and Canada have set up marine protected areas where activities such as dumping of waste and oil drilling are prohibited. Not all otters use tools, but sea otters use them all the time. They’re also considered a keystone species because of their critical importance to the health and stability of the nearshore marine ecosystem. 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. 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. Why are sea otters so important? The grazers in turn kept the eelgrass blades clean and healthy. Let’s take a look at the Eurasian … Sea otters are also considered a sentinel species because their health reflects that of California’s coastal waters. When sea otters decline, however, urchin numbers explode—as does their grazing pressure on bull kelp. Otters are some of the most adorable aquatic animals. 3. When present in healthy numbers, sea otters keep sea urchin populations in check. 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. 1. Sea otters generally forage in nearshore waters shallower than 60 feet (18 m) but have been recorded diving to 300 feet (90 m) or more. Although capable of walking on land, otters may spend their whole lives in water. By controlling sea urchin populations, sea otters promote giant kelp growth, as that species is a favorite of sea urchin grazers. Sea otters are ‘’keystone species” because of their critical role in maintaining the health and stability of the nearshore marine ecosystems. Why are Sea Otters Important? 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. It is your job to research why sea otters are so important to their ecosystem and associated food web. Sea otters play an important role in their ecosystem by controlling the numbers of sea urchins. Sea otters were considered especially economically important to humans during the fur trade from 1700s up to 1911 (date of the International Fur Seal Treaty signed). Sea otters are ‘’keystone species” because of their critical role in maintaining the health and stability of the nearshore marine ecosystems. Sea otters are a "keystone species" which means that they can exert top-down pressure via predation on sea urchins, which are grazers upon kelp. When they discovered Sea otters off California in the thirties it was like they discovered dinosaurs, because they thought they were extinct. Otter enrichment is important because it keeps them active and learning while playing all day. Sea otters are very important to the environment, and without them the food chain would collapse. He would go on to realize that sea otters are a keystone predator that increases the abundance of a diverse array of sea life. Their populations are significantly impacted by several human factors. When population control of prey by their predators then affects the next trophic level, the kelp, it is referred to as a “trophic cascade.” Kelp is vitally important to the ecosystem: they can slow coastal erosion and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 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. But the animals have not naturally repopulated to Oregon in the time since. What Is The Importance Of Insects In The Ecosystem? Every sea otter’s return is good news for nature. Held every year during the last week in September, Sea Otter Awareness Week spotlights the important role of sea otters in … Her survey found the most important factor in how indigenous communities felt about the sea otter’s recovery was the extent to which they felt agency or inclusion in decision-making. Sea otter pups are born in water and float like corks, but they cannot swim for several weeks. Whales, seals, sea lions and dolphins have a blubbery layer of fat to keep them warm in their environment of cold saltwater, but sea otters lack that layer. With these rocks, they can open mussels and clams. These filter feeders indiscriminately sieve particles out of the water resulting in them accumulating high concentrations of pollutants and disease pathogens. More kelp forests result in fewer urchin barrens, as well as an increase in the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and release oxygen back into the air. Seagrass meadows are significant to the ecosystem as they result in the protection of the coastal regions and preservation of the habitat for fish. In coastal areas where sea otters regularly consume sea urchins, kelp forests have a greater chance to take hold and endure, and act as an undersea forest habitat for other marine animals. What Is The Role Of Vultures In The Ecosystem And Wildlife Conservation? Additionally, the damaging physical effects of oil contamination, as well as toxicological effects from ingestion and inhalation can lead to severe, long-term organ damage and other potentially life-threatening conditions. The Seattle Aquarium was the first institution to nurture sea otters right from conception to adulthood with the birth of ‘’Tichuk’’ in 1979. Why Are Sea Otters Important? Researchers recently tested how sea otters distinguish objects with the sense of touch. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are not like other marine mammals. River otters are not that long-lived; the oldest female in this study was 12 years old, the oldest male, 13. The research is investigating the evolution of sea otters and the history of the population which crashed a century ago due to the fur trade. 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. With the reduced crabs in the meadows, the population of the sea slugs increase and feed on the algae seen growing on the leaves of the seagrass. Otters have some interesting relatives. 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. Sea otters reside in the underwater which has extremely cold temperatures. Thirdly, sea otters expose themselves to diseases and pollutants through their feeding habits. Despite its common name, the North American river otter is equally comfortable in either coastal marine or freshwater habitats. Sea otters are very playful and busy so they need a lot of activities. 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. They eat sea urchins and other invertebrates that graze on giant kelp. 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. For example, in a kelp forest, otters eat sea urchins, and urchins eat kelp. The otters need different things to do like playing in ice baths or figuring out how to use new toys. Because otters are such good predators, the sea slugs that are typically eaten by crabs have the chance to do their job in removing excess algae from seagrass. For example, they transfer marine-derived nitrogen to the terrestrial ecosystem. Sea otters feed mostly on sea urchins, mollusks, crustaceans, and fish. There are 13 species of otter in the world and they are all in the Red List of Threatened Species. 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. When we do our part, we can make sure our seas remain a safe playground for one of the planet’s most whimsical and important creatures. These sea creatures also depend on a high metabolism rate to generate body heat. Such an increase is a result of the food web that forms within this ecosystem formed by the sea otters, crabs, and sea slugs. Otters are crucial in keeping kelp forests healthy and thriving. 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. Sea otters use rocks to crack open the spiny shells of sea urchins. Some researchers hypothesize that sea otters and their voracious appetites have played an important role in shaping the natural history of the California coastline and the Pacific Rim. 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. In the kelp forest, it eats sea urchins and other animals that graze on giant kelp. Sea otters spend all of their time in the ocean, including sleeping. Besides existing in the wild, otters are also raised in captivity like public aquariums and zoos. Sea otters, in turn, are equally voracious predators of sea urchins. That’s because these creatures are an important part of their ecosystems. 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. Sea otters are critical to maintaining the balance of the near-shore kelp ecosystems. This knowledge can also be important for rehabilitation programs, she said. We must protect sea otters from fishermen or people who consider otters to be an enemy because they compete with them for their food. Eventually, the seagrasses become clean and healthy resulting in higher populations. Fourthly, sea otters are also threatened by predators that live underwater like orcas, sea lions, and bald eagles. 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. by seaottersdotcom | May 23, 2013 | sea otters. They have thick fur that generates heat to keep their bodies warm. Yet some of these same physiological characteristics, such as exceptionally high daily calorie demands, also make them critically important to our coastal ecosystem health. If you come across a sea otter you think is sick, injured or abandoned, please give it space and call The Marine Mammal Center’s stranding hotline at (415) 289-7325. Otters are found on all continents except Antarctica and Australasia. Otters are part of the Mustelidae family, which is a family of … Sea otters are a keystone species in the kelp forest ecosystem, eating sea urchins, clams, snails, sea stars, squid, octopuses and abalone. They sleep this way, often gathered in groups. 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. A collection of kelps result in the formation of kelp forests. As sea otters reclaimed their role as predators in this estuary, they helped restore balance to this important habitat connecting land to sea. Here are some viewing tips to help you enjoy watching sea otters and other marine wildlife in a safe and responsible way. 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. The specific role of the sea otters in the eco-system is as follows; ‘’Kelps’’ are brown algae seaweeds growing rapidly underwater covering 25% of the world’s coastlines. Sea otters are a very important keystone species that are highly endangered. This turn can have devastating effects on marine life diversity. In some areas, usually where there are few predators, sea otters will rest on land, but they spend most of their time at the water’s surface floating on their backs. With these … Keystone species are species in an ecosystem thatare not necessarily abundant, but those that other species greatly depend on. Without these keystone species, ecosystems could fail or drastically change. As top predators, sea otters are critical to maintaining the balance of nearshore ecosystems, such as kelp forests, embayments and estuaries. First, one of the biggest threats to the existence of sea otters is humans. Otters are crucial in keeping kelp forests healthy and thriving. Now customize the name of a clipboard to store your clips. In Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, sea otters often spend their time in kelp forests, where they feed on invertebrates like sea urchins. Sea otters are a very important keystone species that are highly endangered. Tune into our LIVE Sea Otter Cam for your daily dose of sea otter cuteness. When otters fall asleep they tend to hold hands so they do not drift away from each other! Similarly, their consumption of crabs in estuaries reduces predation on snails. Since then, the sea otter has become an important poster species for the ecology movement: a lovable, cuddly sea mammal that was saved from extinction thanks to … However, even this is questionable as tens of thousands are killed LEGALLY each year by trapping. The high metabolism comes from the food eaten by the sea otters. They’re also considered a keystone species because of their critical importance to the health and stability of the nearshore marine ecosystem. By controlling the number of crabs, sea otters helped sea slugs and other tiny marine grazers flourish. The Eurasian Otter can be found in rivers and lakes in the Zagros, Elburz and Koppe-Dagh mountain range and in the Iranian Azerbaijan. Without sea otters, urchins prevent kelp forests from forming important habitats for many animals. Without sea otters, these grazing animals can destroy kelp forests and consequently the wide diversity of animals that depend upon kelp habitat for survival. In the past there have been many problems including hunting for fur and pollution. “Sea otters exhibit strong top-down control of grazers, particularly sea urchins, and thus indirectly increase kelp population spatial occupancy and productivity,” Martone and her colleagues wrote in a summary of their research they presented Tuesday.. Sea otters By: Rhiannon Martin, Mackenzie Gatton, and Dallas Haase 2. When present in healthy numbers, they keep sea urchin populations in check. However, countries around the globe have enacted legislation outlawing their hunting. In the recent past, sea otters nearly became extinct due to large-scale commercial hunting for its pelt. People affect sea otter populations through direct shootings and trapping sea otters in fishing nets. 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. As top predators, sea otters are critical to maintaining the balance of nearshore ecosystems, such as kelp forests, embayments and estuaries. Crude oil normally penetrates the fur of the otter destroying the air layer that is trapped next to its skin. They are not at the top of the food web, however, and are eaten by orcas, great white sharks and other large predators. Sea otters are a keystone species, meaning their role in their environment has a greater effect than other species. Sea otters are an important keystone species in the marine system. The urchins can destroy the kelp forest. As of 2006, the lingering oil in the area continued to affect the population of these valuable sea creatures. 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 considered the "old man of the sea" because of their fabulous whiskers! 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. 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. They have a pouch in their arm to store items like food and perhaps their favorite rock. The scientists studied the impact of otters on kelp forests and marine life off the Canadian coast in British Columbia. Gidget was part of the Aquarium’s sea otter exhibit and surrogacy program and also provided a genetic sample that researchers used to create the first complete southern sea otter genome. Sea otters are an iconic species, representing the beauty and diversity of marine life found along California’s coastline. Sea otters were successfully reintroduced to California, Washington, British Columbia and southeast Alaska 50 years ago. They can hold hands! Can otters use tools? A keystone species is one that exerts a large, stabilizing influence throughout an ecological community. 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. Photograph: Noel Hendrickson/Getty Images. Sea otters are endangered because they have been hunted for their fur since the 1700-1800s. By repeatedly foraging these contaminated prey, the otters put themselves at risk of harmful diseases. 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. Sea otters are critical to maintaining the balance of the near-shore kelp ecosystems. Sea otters can eat 25 to 30 percent of their body weight in one day, which would be equivalent to a 175-pound human eating 45 pounds of food in one day. Other things such as shootings and getting caught in fishing traps and nets promote a major threat to these sea otters. However, this is not enough to keep the sea otters warm. Sea Otters as a Keystone Species . Sea otters, in addition to being tender animals, are extremely important for the care of marine forests and for increasing biodiversity. 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. They are native to the northern coastlines of the Pacific Ocean, from northern Japan to Baja, Mexico. Although sea otter numbers have recovered somewhat, they are still at risk. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are an easily recognized and beloved marine mammal. They typically use … By Sharon Omondi on December 12 2019 in Environment. 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. We don’t want to be inadvertently killing them with our cars. What Is The Role Of Sea Otters In The Ecosystem? Economic Importance. Although, their whiskers are robust and thick like their seal and sea lion counterparts, they never traded their front paws for flippers. 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