Sea Otters Research Paper

sea otters are from the kingdom animalia. Sea otters are stouter and have large rib cages, smaller tails and muzzle than other species of otters. Yet sea otters posses the fine, dense fur coats characteristic of the Mustelidae. Their forefeet are small and dexterous with retractile claws and the flipper like hind feet are broad and webbed. Sea otters once was abundant along most coastal North pacific ocean. That was before fur traders hunted them for their thick ice, luxurious pelts. By the year 1900, sea otters were nearly extinct . Protected since 1911, alaska sea otters have made a comeback. There lifespan is 10-15 years. Great white sharks are the primary predator of sea otters and occasionally eaten by coyote so the predators that the

otters face kills them off. The roles of the otters is maintaining the health and stability of the nearshore marine ecosystem. There was up to 150, 000 and 300,000 specimens. Presently there considered to be an endangered group of animals, as indicated by 2011 according to the red list of threatened species report. In 2004-2007 the global populations of sea otters were 107,000. A low species occurred in 1911 when they were believed to be fewer than 2,000 otters. One factor that in the past brought upon the endangered status of the species is hunting by human beings-- for the purpose of acquiring their pelts. Although the international fur seal treaty of 1911 made pelagic hunting of seals illicit, number of the species had already taken a mass hit-- extremely close to extinct. Oil spills is also a major concern for sea otters and other species. Direct contact with oil and can lead to hypothermia in sea otters, as it triggers their coat to lose insulation abilities. It can also bring upon pneumonia. It can also be a hazard because when there's a accidental oil spill and the otters take it while cleaning themselves can be really hazardous.The cause of the killer whale population to go down is first the reproduction. There is no new reproduction since 2012??. The number of whales in J,K,L pods has also dropped to 78 a level not seen since 1985.The second thing is the supply of food. The killer whales refuse to eat any other salmon accept chinooks. Chinooks?? has declined in population in some areas. During the 1960s and 1970s, the southern resident population was reduced dramatically when orcas were captured for marine parks and aquariums throughout the world. After that practice ended, their numbers grew to 98 in 1995, then dropped in 2001 to 80.

This year they are listed under the endangered species act and has today 78 killer whales left. The factors that could be contributed to such a rapid change in the size of sea otter population is stop hunting sea otter down and killing them and selling them to fur traders.That is the big thing in the otter decline people from 1800 to 1900 hunted and sold them all time for there fur. killer Whales have a taste for sea otters and the sea lion and seals short in supply in the northern pacific. Killer whales are feeding on otters because of the absents of their prey. The lost of sea otters have effect on organism is Alaska’s sea otters decline the affects health of kelp forests and diet of eagles. Sea otters play a private part by keeping the kelp forest a healthy balance. By eating sea urchins-- the biggest threat to kelps forests--sea otters control sea urchins numbers and kept the ecosystem in balance. This ensured that these underwater plants could thrive and reach their maximum height of 250 ft.The sharp drop in sea otter numbers in this island chain of alaska is the predation level. killer whales need 61.54 kcal/male otters and kcal needed is 308000 kcal

needed.