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). 3. Sea otters often float at the water's surface, lying on their backs in a posture of serene repose. They have a pouch in their arm to store items like food and perhaps their favorite rock. This knowledge can also be important for rehabilitation programs, she said. Seagrass meadows are significant to the ecosystem as they result in the protection of the coastal regions and preservation of the habitat for fish. Sea otters are ‘’keystone species” because of their critical role in maintaining the health and stability of the nearshore marine ecosystems. 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. Why are sea otters so important to California’s marine ecosystems? Sea otters feed mostly on sea urchins, mollusks, crustaceans, and fish. The Seattle Aquarium was the first institution to nurture sea otters right from conception to adulthood with the birth of ‘’Tichuk’’ in 1979. 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. It is your job to research why sea otters are so important to their ecosystem and associated food web. Similarly, their consumption of crabs in estuaries reduces predation on snails. They are not at the top of the food web, however, and are eaten by orcas, great white sharks and other large predators. Thus, the reduction in the numbers of the sea urchins, caused by the presence of sea otters, prevents the decimation of the kelp forests. In the kelp forest, it eats sea urchins and other animals that graze on giant kelp. 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. When otters fall asleep they tend to hold hands so they do not drift away from each other! In the past there have been many problems including hunting for fur and pollution. 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. by seaottersdotcom | May 23, 2013 | sea otters. They’re also considered a keystone species because of their critical importance to the health and stability of the nearshore marine ecosystem. Other things such as shootings and getting caught in fishing traps and nets promote a major threat to these sea otters. For example, Strobel said it’s important to know about behavior as sea otter populations expand to other areas in California, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. 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. Sea otters use rocks to crack open the spiny shells of sea urchins. River otters are not that long-lived; the oldest female in this study was 12 years old, the oldest male, 13. A keystone species is one that exerts a large, stabilizing influence throughout an ecological community. They sleep this way, often gathered in groups. What Is The Role Of Vultures In The Ecosystem And Wildlife Conservation? But when sea otters decline, urchin numbers explode and grab onto kelp like flies on honey. This turn can have devastating effects on marine life diversity. After eating, they wash themselves in the ocean, cleaning their coat with their teeth and paws. With these rocks, they can open mussels and clams. They eat sea urchins and other invertebrates that graze on giant kelp. Otter enrichment is important because it keeps them active and learning while playing all day. 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. Kelp forests are large marine environments where tall algae called kelp is the dominant producer. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are not like other marine mammals. Let’s take a look at the Eurasian … Their populations are significantly impacted by several human factors. 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. Sea otters are a keystone species in the kelp forest. Sea otters, in addition to being tender animals, are extremely important for the care of marine forests and for increasing biodiversity. Nonetheless, the managers of this estuary have recently reintroduced sea otters that have resulted in the sudden increase in the seagrass beds. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are an easily recognized and beloved marine mammal. Sea Otters as a Keystone Species . Why Are Sea Otters Important? Economic Importance. However, this is not enough to keep the sea otters warm. In particular, they … As sea otters reclaimed their role as predators in this estuary, they helped restore balance to this important habitat connecting land to sea. 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. Although capable of walking on land, otters may spend their whole lives in water. What Is The Role Of Sea Otters In The Ecosystem? All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2021 worldatlas.com. 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. The Eurasian Otter can be found in rivers and lakes in the Zagros, Elburz and Koppe-Dagh mountain range and in the Iranian Azerbaijan. As of 2006, the lingering oil in the area continued to affect the population of these valuable sea creatures. Sea otters are considered the "old man of the sea" because of their fabulous whiskers! 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 urchins feed voraciously on kelp forests thereby damaging the eco-system leading to what is known as "urchin barrens." Why Are Sea Otters Important? Now customize the name of a clipboard to store your clips. Overall, southern sea otters have only recolonized about 13 percent of their historic range, according to the study. He would go on to realize that sea otters are a keystone predator that increases the abundance of a diverse array of sea life. Sea otters are also considered a sentinel species because their health reflects that of California’s coastal waters. Sea otters mate, sleep, groom, hunt, give birth, rest and play in the ocean! 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. Can otters use tools? The urchins can destroy the kelp forest. 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. 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 a keystone species, meaning their role in their environment has a greater effect than other species. The grazers in turn kept the eelgrass blades clean and healthy. 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. This is an area of the sea without kelp forest cover. 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. 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. Secondly, oil spills result in the death of sea otters. 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. 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. A collection of kelps result in the formation of kelp forests. Sea otters are meticulously clean. Did you know sea otters have built in pouches of loose skin under their forearms to stash extra prey when diving? Sea otter pups are born in water and float like corks, but they cannot swim for several weeks. Thirdly, sea otters expose themselves to diseases and pollutants through their feeding habits. 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. Otters are found on all continents except Antarctica and Australasia. Sea otters are very important to the environment, and without them the food chain would collapse. Here are some viewing tips to help you enjoy watching sea otters and other marine wildlife in a safe and responsible way. Sea otters spend all of their time in the ocean, including sleeping. Since they must sleep at the surface, they often wrap themselves in giant kelp to keep from floating away. 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. 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. These sea creatures also depend on a high metabolism rate to generate body heat. Consequently, the sea otters die from hypothermia. In the kelp forest, it eats sea urchins and other animals that graze on giant kelp. Fortunately, sea otters feed on sea urchins resulting in the preservation of the kelp forests. ... Clipping is a handy way to collect important slides you want to go back to later. Sea otters were successfully reintroduced to California, Washington, British Columbia and southeast Alaska 50 years ago. They’re also considered a keystone species because of their critical importance to the health and stability of the nearshore marine ecosystem. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are marine mammals inhabiting the shores of the Aleutian Islands and along the North American coast up to Mexico. 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. When sea otters decline, however, urchin numbers explode—as does their grazing pressure on bull kelp. The males are polygynous as they may take up multiple female partners. When present in healthy numbers, they keep sea urchin populations in check. 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. Held every year during the last week in September, Sea Otter Awareness Week spotlights the important role of sea otters in … Photograph: Noel Hendrickson/Getty Images. California Condor Facts: Animals Of North America, The Causes And Effects Of Ocean Pollution. The high metabolism comes from the food eaten by the sea otters. Their charming features are unparalleled, from their expressions to their use of tools. Why are we monitoring? Without sea otters, urchins prevent kelp forests from forming important habitats for many animals. Eventually, the seagrasses become clean and healthy resulting in higher populations. The scientists studied the impact of otters on kelp forests and marine life off the Canadian coast in British Columbia. 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 otters are a "keystone species" which means that they can exert top-down pressure via predation on sea urchins, which are grazers upon kelp. Sea otters are critical to maintaining the balance of the near-shore kelp ecosystems. A keystone species is one that exerts a large, stabilizing influence throughout an ecological community. Sea otters are an iconic species, representing the beauty and diversity of marine life found along California’s coastline. The endemic species of Smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli) is also present in 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. Besides existing in the wild, otters are also raised in captivity like public aquariums and zoos. Otters are crucial in keeping kelp forests healthy and thriving. 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. 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. When they discovered Sea otters off California in the thirties it was like they discovered dinosaurs, because they thought they were extinct. In Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, sea otters often spend their time in kelp forests, where they feed on invertebrates like sea urchins. 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. Such an increase is a result of the food web that forms within this ecosystem formed by the sea otters, crabs, and sea slugs. Sea otters are an important keystone species in the marine system. 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 component of nearshore ecosystems in the northern Gulf of Alaska. Sea otters are very playful and busy so they need a lot of activities. 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. This challenge has affected even large estuaries such as the Elkhorn Slough Estuary located on Monterey Bay in Central California, US. These filter feeders indiscriminately sieve particles out of the water resulting in them accumulating high concentrations of pollutants and disease pathogens. Tune into our LIVE Sea Otter Cam for your daily dose of sea otter cuteness. 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. 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. Why are Sea Otters Important? As top predators, sea otters are critical to maintaining the balance of nearshore ecosystems, such as kelp forests, embayments and estuaries. 1. When otters are not around, the urchin population can get too big. In fact, they are now recognised as … 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. But Estes didn’t understand the real meaning of what he’d seen until a meeting with veteran ecologist Bob Paine. With these … However, even this is questionable as tens of thousands are killed LEGALLY each year by trapping. Not all otters use tools, but sea otters use them all the time. Otters are crucial in keeping kelp forests healthy and thriving. 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