Sea Otters: A Harrowing Tale
by Maisie Baronian
Sea otters are a beautiful endangered species that is vulnerable to large scale population declines. The sea otter population originally declined because humans hunted them for their fur. Many legal actions were taken to conserve the species, such as the International Fur Seal Treaty of 1911. In the 1970’s, the sea otters were recognized as endangered under the Marine Mammal Protection and Endangered Species Act. Their population rapidly increased and showed signs of being fully restored. However, over the past 30 years, their population has dropped by over 50%.
Sea otters are more than just a cute, fuzzy little creature. They are also a keystone species, which is a species that would cause the ecosystem to be dramatically different if it did not exist. Sea otters eat sea urchins, and sea urchins eat kelp. Kelp is a major source of food and shelter for many animals. If sea otters were to go extinct, the population of sea urchin would be out of control, and there would be a dramatic decrease in kelp. As you can see, the effects of sea otters going extinct would be detrimental. Sea otters are being killed off by oil pollution, competition with humans, and pollution due to runoff.
The biggest cause of mortality in sea otters is oil pollution. Fur is a natural insulator, so when otters are exposed to oil, it mats their fur, causing them to die from hypothermia. Also, even a small amount of exposure to oil can result in lung, liver and kidney damage in sea otters. The effects of oil may not hit the otters right away, so the results can be gradual. Sea otters are exposed to oil through oil spills, offshore drilling, onshore pipelines, leaky oil tankers, and the dumping of sea water used to wash out tankers in the ocean.
Another threat to the sea otter population is that they compete for food with humans. Sea otters eat sea urchins, lobster, and crab. This causes a rift between themselves and fishermen since fishermen will often use an otter’s feeding grounds as a place to catch fish. Not only will the otters lose their resources, but they will often become entangled in the fishing gear and drown.
Sea otters are heavily affected by the runoff from humans into the ocean. This affects the sea otter’s food and the sea otters directly. Sea otters have died due to toxic pollutants and disease causing parasites. They have contracted Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis neurons, which are parasites found in cats and possums. Scientists believe this may be an effect of dumping cat litter down the toilet. Scientists have also found manmade chemicals such as PCBs in the bodies of dead sea otters. PCBs are used for the manufacture of plastics, lubricants, dielectric fluids, and as adhesives. Chemicals like these exist in the environment for long periods of time and are toxic to wildlife in high concentrations.
The population of sea otters, and many other species as well, has the potential to be restored if humans were to stop using oil, the sea otter’s habitats as fishing grounds, and the ocean as a garbage disposal.
[photo, otter in his element, by douglas brown licensed by CC BY-NC-ND 2.0]
by Maisie Baronian
Sea otters are a beautiful endangered species that is vulnerable to large scale population declines. The sea otter population originally declined because humans hunted them for their fur. Many legal actions were taken to conserve the species, such as the International Fur Seal Treaty of 1911. In the 1970’s, the sea otters were recognized as endangered under the Marine Mammal Protection and Endangered Species Act. Their population rapidly increased and showed signs of being fully restored. However, over the past 30 years, their population has dropped by over 50%.
Sea otters are more than just a cute, fuzzy little creature. They are also a keystone species, which is a species that would cause the ecosystem to be dramatically different if it did not exist. Sea otters eat sea urchins, and sea urchins eat kelp. Kelp is a major source of food and shelter for many animals. If sea otters were to go extinct, the population of sea urchin would be out of control, and there would be a dramatic decrease in kelp. As you can see, the effects of sea otters going extinct would be detrimental. Sea otters are being killed off by oil pollution, competition with humans, and pollution due to runoff.
The biggest cause of mortality in sea otters is oil pollution. Fur is a natural insulator, so when otters are exposed to oil, it mats their fur, causing them to die from hypothermia. Also, even a small amount of exposure to oil can result in lung, liver and kidney damage in sea otters. The effects of oil may not hit the otters right away, so the results can be gradual. Sea otters are exposed to oil through oil spills, offshore drilling, onshore pipelines, leaky oil tankers, and the dumping of sea water used to wash out tankers in the ocean.
Another threat to the sea otter population is that they compete for food with humans. Sea otters eat sea urchins, lobster, and crab. This causes a rift between themselves and fishermen since fishermen will often use an otter’s feeding grounds as a place to catch fish. Not only will the otters lose their resources, but they will often become entangled in the fishing gear and drown.
Sea otters are heavily affected by the runoff from humans into the ocean. This affects the sea otter’s food and the sea otters directly. Sea otters have died due to toxic pollutants and disease causing parasites. They have contracted Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis neurons, which are parasites found in cats and possums. Scientists believe this may be an effect of dumping cat litter down the toilet. Scientists have also found manmade chemicals such as PCBs in the bodies of dead sea otters. PCBs are used for the manufacture of plastics, lubricants, dielectric fluids, and as adhesives. Chemicals like these exist in the environment for long periods of time and are toxic to wildlife in high concentrations.
The population of sea otters, and many other species as well, has the potential to be restored if humans were to stop using oil, the sea otter’s habitats as fishing grounds, and the ocean as a garbage disposal.
[photo, otter in his element, by douglas brown licensed by CC BY-NC-ND 2.0]