California Sea Otters

The California, or southern, sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) is the only sea otter subspecies currently listed as an endangered species under the federal Endangered Species Act. The California sea otter is also a “fully protected mammal” by California state law and by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

In the 1700’s, the sea otters were hunted to near extinction for their fur. In the late 1930’s, a small population of otters (estimated at approximately 300) was discovered along California’s Big Sur coast. The California population is estimated at a mere 2,000 as of Fall 2001.

Historically, there were between 16,000 to 20,000 sea otters along the coast of California

Sea otters are classified as both an umbrella species, and a keystone species. As an umbrella species, the protections made for the sea otter will essentially affect a large number of other species in their ecosystem. A keystone species is a term used to refer to the sea otters functional role within their ecosystem. The feeding habits of the sea otters have a crucial effect on their ecol

. . .

View the whole essay, without interruption

The carcasses were selected from the approximately 110-160 carcasses found each year in California. Another 13% had died from miscellaneous conditions such as neoplastia, gastrointestinal or urinary obstructions. Their consumption of shellfish places them in an important role in the maintenance of the kelp ecosystem. The urchin and abalone eat the kelp forests and transform them into urchin barrens. Urchin barrens are areas that nearly barren of kelp because of the urchins and abalone. The sea otters can be referred to as indicators of the health of their ecosystem.

Many causes have been recognized as contributing to the population decline: shark attacks, gunshot wounds, mating activities, fishing/net line injuries, habitat degradation, lack of an adequate food supply, land and water pollution, and disease. Unfortunately, fishermen fish the same areas in which the sea otters live for shellfish, urchins, and abalone. ogical system, and their actions affect many of the organisms within their food chain. 5% of the sea otters examined were determined to have died from various parasitic, fungal, or bacterial diseases. Without the otters, urchins and abalone overrun the kelp forests.

In 1986, Congress passed a law allowing sea otters to be “translocated” to another area of the California coast. From 1987-1990, otters were captured from their home range and moved to San Nicholas Island, one of the Channel Islands 60 miles off the coast. This translocation project would essentially create a second breeding colony of sea otters and hopefully boost the otter population.

Approximate Word count = 722
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Simply subscribe to view this paper, and 100,000 others.