Sea Otters: Sea Otters: Adorable but Adorable but ThreatenedThreatened

Sea Otters: Sea Otters: Adorable but Adorable but ThreatenedThreatened

Sentinel Species at RiskSentinel Species at Risk

Due to Pollution and Over-fishingDue to Pollution and Over-fishing

Sentinel Species at RiskSentinel Species at Risk

Due to Pollution and Over-fishingDue to Pollution and Over-fishing

By Jim Fiddes By Jim Fiddes Danbury HS & PNWBOCES, Yorktown, NYDanbury HS & PNWBOCES, Yorktown, NY

Threats to Sea Otter PopulationThreats to Sea Otter Population• Disease : EPM &

toxoplasmosis• Contaminants: in water

& in prey• Starvation: hi food need• Entanglement &

Entrapment: lines/nets• Predation• Oil Spills: ExValdez 5K• Difficult Environment

Sea Otter BiologySea Otter Biology• Enhydra lutris; Mustelidae• 150K Alaska; 1.3K Calif.• >60 lbs; >20 years; >4’ long• high metabolism: 20% body

weight in food daily; 3x human• dense fur: ~100K/sq in;

grooming critical • semi-retractable claws; rear

outside toe is longest• lungs 2x : other mammals • whiskers locate prey, feel

vibrations

Sea Otter AnatomySea Otter Anatomy•Muscles for grasping & swimming; side to side on back, vertical•flexible spine, longer outer toe; hips hold legs for swimming, more than walking

Sea Otter Biology 2Sea Otter Biology 2• Body temp: 100 F. hold paws

& feet up to conserve heat • extremely flexible spine; can

reach all body to groom--• no blubber, oils & bubbles in

fur insulate• pouches near back feet to

store food• tool user: breaks shells with

rock, on sternum• can dive to 300’; 4 minutes

Sea Otter Biology 3Sea Otter Biology 3• Related to weasels & skunks• Social learning: mother

teaches pup foraging skills; recognizes unique pup’s call

• playful & intelligent as dogs• “raft” = group of sea otters• strong jaws & sharp teeth:

canines to break, incisors to scoop meat from shells

• frequent short naps, feed day & night

Sea Otter Ecology 1Sea Otter Ecology 1

Sea Otter Ecology 2Sea Otter Ecology 2

Sea Otter Ecology 3Sea Otter Ecology 3

Sea Otter Ecology 4Sea Otter Ecology 4

•rugged coastline•steep shore contour•bay collects run-off

Polluted Food--Polluted Food--eat hearty & die...eat hearty & die...Polluted Food--Polluted Food--eat hearty & die...eat hearty & die...• Shellfish concentrate

pollutants, which accumulate in otters, & otter milk

• Sea urchins eat kelp holdfasts, but also are a cash crop; abalone are expensive--fishermen complain: otters eat both

• urchins destroy kelp forest--clear-cut = habitat loss

Otters & DiseasesOtters & Diseases......Otters & DiseasesOtters & Diseases......• Pollutants weaken

immune systems• Butylin is a biocide in

anti-fouling boat paint• Concentrations of DDT

& PCB correlate with diseases in otters

http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/images/seaott99.gif

Predators: Part of the ProblemPredators: Part of the Problem• Fur hunters nearly wiped

out sea otters; 1911 law stopped sea otter fur trade

• Over-fishing reduces prey fish species in Alaska; Orcas eat otters

• California shark population increases, otters now on menu

Other Otter Problems & PerilsOther Otter Problems & Perils• Female injured

during mating

• It’s tough work, being an otter:

• California: 17 to 38 % foraging - 50 to 68 % resting

• Amchitka Island, AK: 51 to 58 % time foraging - 32 to 34% resting

• High infant mortality• Other, 3

We Can Fix This: Ways to HelpWe Can Fix This: Ways to Help• Monterey Bay Aq.’s

orphan otter recovery & rehab program

• Fewer feral cats!!• Public support &

contributions

“Sea Otters Threatened”--Annotated Works Cited“Sea Otters Threatened”--Annotated Works Citedhttp://www.the-scientist.com/yr2001/feb/research_010219.htmhttp://www.the-scientist.com/yr2001/feb/research_010219.htm

•Details toxoplasmosis & protozoal meningococcus infections from feral cats & opossums--good details & pix

http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/1999/06/062499/seaotter_3930.asphttp://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/1999/06/062499/seaotter_3930.asp•One good illus.--short article links pop. decline to fishing nets

http://www.defenders.org/wildlife/new/marine/otters/images/dowil_sea-otter_even-more-final.htmlhttp://www.defenders.org/wildlife/new/marine/otters/images/dowil_sea-otter_even-more-final.html

•Cute animation on otter problems w/links to Defenders of Wildlifehttp://www.discovery.com/stories/nature/otters/otters.htmlhttp://www.discovery.com/stories/nature/otters/otters.html•Good site w/live cams & recovery program profiles, sounds & videos

Zoobooks: Sea Otters Wildlife Education, Ltd. 0-937934-70-4 c.1995

•Excellent illus. & photos; detailed text, interesting, inexpensive http://www.mbayaq.org/http://www.mbayaq.org/

•Excellent site w/live otter cam; detailed info, interesting, authoritative

www.fso.orgwww.fso.orgwww.fso.orgwww.fso.org •Friends of the Sea Otter--pix, history, videos, &c

“Sea Otters Threatened”--Annotated Works Cited 2“Sea Otters Threatened”--Annotated Works Cited 2

www.otterproject.orgwww.otterproject.orgwww.otterproject.orgwww.otterproject.org•Colorful & interesting site, with good links to scientific studies, charts

http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/1999/06/062499/seaotter_3930.asphttp://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/1999/06/062499/seaotter_3930.asphttp://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/1999/06/062499/seaotter_3930.asphttp://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/1999/06/062499/seaotter_3930.asp

•One good illus.--short article links pop. decline to fishing netshttp://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/researchhttp://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/researchhttp://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/researchhttp://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/research

•Pdf article & some pix , plus good links, & scientists to callhttp://www.marinemammalcenter.org/http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/

•Links & articles on all marine mammals; colorful, easy, searchableresponse.restoration.noaa.gov/ bat/imagesresponse.restoration.noaa.gov/ bat/images

•Extensive database & analysis of Exxon Valdez oil spill; lots of links, images, charts & graphs; NOAA site is great resource itself!

We need your help!!Thank you & take care!

We need your help!!Thank you & take care!

Now--the Quiz!!!Now--the Quiz!!!Now--the Quiz!!!Now--the Quiz!!!

Sea Otter Screen Quiz 1Sea Otter Screen Quiz 1

1.1. Name & describe at least three things making sea otters sick.

2.2. List & describe two ways sea otters keep warm.

33. Describe at least two other adaptations of the sea otter that enable it to live successfully in the ocean.

4.4. What is the sea otter’s role in the ecology of the kelp forest?

5.5. Three reasons people should concern themselves with the sea otter. (one hint: define “sentinel speciessentinel species”)

1. Cat feces & litter, possum feces, oil, insecticides, pollutants in food & water

2. Air bubbles in fur, fur density, high metabolism & lots of food

3. Grasping front claws, 2x lungs, spine & rear feet adapted for swimming, frequent naps, wraps in kelp…etc

4. Predator, control urchins to preserve kelp

5. Sentinel species-”canaries”; preserve important ecosystem; bring in lots of cash...

No Peeking, Now!!No Peeking, Now!!No Peeking, Now!!No Peeking, Now!!

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