AP Environmental Science: Chapter 5 1. Explain how southern sea otters act as a keystone species in kelp beds. The otters help to keep sea urchins and other kelp-eating species from depleting highly productive and rapidly growing kelp forests, which provide habitats for a number of species in offshore coastal waters. Without southern sea otters, sea urchins would probably destroy the kelp forests and much of the rich biodiversity associated with them. Explain why we should care about protecting
1911, Southern sea otters swam on every coast near the Pacific, Including the Sea of Japan. They lived in large kelp forests near shores and would usually stay on the surface of the water only diving when food was necessary. Being the most important part of the food chain, sea otters kept anything that would eat the seaweed like snails, and sea urchin populations in check so the kelp forests wouldn 't die out. Southern sea otter populations near the west were unknown, but the American east coast
wildlife officials are used to seeing sick and dead sea otters, http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-facts-you-didnt-know-about-sea-otters.html they're not used to seeing so many of them and in this condition. Unlike otters in the past, these otters looked surprisingly healthier. 200 Reports of Sick and Dead Otters Over a Couple of Months As reported in KBBI, http://kbbi.org/post/scientists-investigate-otter-deaths-0 whatever is hitting the otters is hitting them fast and hard. Alaska Maritime National
What does the otter eat? Sea Urchins How does the consumption by the otter effect the growth of the Kelp forest? The major threat to kelp forests is presented by sea urchins, which can eliminate the forest. Sea otters are the main predators of sea urchins and keep the urchin population in check. Is this a direct or indirect effect? Direct effect - sea otters on sea Urchins. So this is, indirect effect- sea otters on Kelp as they do not have direct relationship. Is this a positive or negative
ea otters are an essential keystone species in a marine ecosystem. They help to keep down herbivore populations to keep kelp happy and they keep sea urchin populations down. Sea otters are mammals that live in oceans often around california kelp forests. They live in chilly waters but have no blubber (Picky Eaters, p.1). Instead they have a thick coating of fur. This fur is thought to be the thickest fur of any mammal. The kelp forests that they live in range in temperatures of 42- 72 degrees Fahrenheit
Sea otters are in danger. Sea otters have had problems for years because of being hunted for their fur. In fact, they were hunted to extinction in the area, but they were reintroduced in 1969 (“Olympic”). Sea otters play an important role in the coastal ecosystem, and they call the kelp beds home. Sea otters are another predator in this marine ecosystem that has been identified as a “keystone’ species (Stolzenburg 62). They also eat sea urchins, so this influx could benefit them. However, not all
The Enhydra Lutris or commonly known as the Sea Otter is a type of Otter usually found along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in North America and Asia. The Sea Otter is just one type of species of Otter; in total there are 13 different types of Otter species and 1 extinct species. These are the 5 most known species of Otter: 1. Pteronura brasiliensis also known as the ‘Giant Otter’ is, as the name suggests, the largest otter and can grow up to 2 meters. This species is also endangered because of poachers
SEA OTTER The sea otter is a little marine vertebrate local toward the north and eastern shorelines of the Pacific Ocean. In spite of the way that sea otters are the biggest individuals from the weasel family, sea otters are among the littlest well evolved creatures in the marine world. The sea otter is known to have one of the thickest, hottest layers of hide in the set of all animals which keeps the sea otter warm in the harsh elements of the North Pacific waters. Like their littler stream otter
Historical archaeology is a sub-disciple of archaeology, which is based on examining the historical records and the material remains of past societies. This sub-discipline of archaeology uses historical records as a tool in explaining the culture history of past societies who lived previously in an archaeological site. The following essay examines both the historical background of an early nineteenth century Russian settlement known as the Fort Ross Colony and an archaeological analysis of one of
United States there are approximately three different Sea Worlds located in San Diego, San Francisco, Orlando, and San Antonio. Over the past years, Sea World has begun to lose a lot of revenue and money because of drastic drops in people attending Sea World. According to Michael Calia in his article “Sea World hit by Bad Press; Stock Off 33%” this drop is mainly because of the recent media debate about the treatment of the captive Orcas in Sea World. Publicists and media stated that the treatment
Decline in Sea Otter Population During the pacific maritime fur trade in 1969, sea otters were hunted until they were almost extinct. After that incident, sea otter hunting was prohibited by international treaty in 1911, because of this a dozen remnant colonies survived. While the North Pacific Ocean recovered at rates of 17-20% in the first year, the population in California hasn’t grown at more than one-third of that rate and they are currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species
of the Sea Squirt and the Sea Otter, and furthermore investigate the UCMP site. Part I: Sea Squirt List the Kingdom and Phylum, for the sea squirt
California sea lion (Zalophus Californianus) - Key characteristics – interactions with humans – communications – Feeding habits – reproduction – threats - conservation Introduction: California Sea Lion, Zalophus Californians belongs to the family “Otariidae”. The animal is found along the coast of the eastern North Pacific. The breeding of California sea lions takes place on islands off the coasts of California and Baja California. They inhabit rocky and sandy beaches of coastal islands and mainland
Animals in the order Carnivora only eat meat and feed on other animals. The sea otters are part of this order. The order Carnivora consists of twelve families, nine of which live on the land. The family of this mammal is called the mustelidae. Being meat eaters, carnivores are on top of the food chain and they form the highest trophic levels within ecosystems.These are recognized to be necessary elements in the system; they improve the stability of the prey populations by keeping them in the carrying
Understanding the biology of lobster is imperative to ensuring that the resource is being managed appropriately, and it provides context for the v-notch measure. American lobster (Homarus americanus) live on rocky sea bottom cover, and range across the eastern seaboard from the Maritime Provinces of Canada to the Mid-Atlantic United States. In the United States, Maine’s lobster fishery is by far the most prevalent. Lobster fishing in Maine occurs year round – lobster are often found offshore in the
the North American river otter, or Lontra canadensis. They are primarily found in Canada and the United States, except the Southwest, and can also be found in portions of Mexico in the Rio Grande. They can be found in any water habitat, namely rivers, lakes, and marshes. In the 19th and 20th centuries, river otters were highly sought after for their coats and were hunted to extinction in over 20 states. Luckily, many states are tirelessly working to bring the river otter populations back and they
SEA OTTERS The sea otter is a marine mammal that lives in the northern and eastern coasts of the North Pacific Ocean. They are the heaviest members of the weasel family but are some of the smallest marine mammals. The sea otter has no blubber and the main way to keep warm is its thick coat of fur which is not like most other marine mammals. Did you know the sea otter has 150,000 strands of hair per square centimetre, because of this the Sea otters have the thickest fur of any mammal. In the Maritime
in the sea otter populations and provides three reasons of support. However, the professor states that the predation hypothesis is the most likely the cause of the sea otter decline in populations and refutes each of the others reasons. First, the reading states that the oil ridgs and other sources of industrial chemical pollution caused the death to the sea otters. The professor opposes this point by saying that the pollution theroy is weakened because people did not find dead sea otter on the
Year 9 Science Ecology Symbiosis Symbiosis Symbiosis is the relationship between two living organisms. The main types of symbiosis are mutualism, parasitism and commensalism. The association between the two organisms can be beneficial to one or two of the species or in some cases be harmful, depending on the type of symbiosis. Commensalism Commensalism is a biological term which is used to describe the relationship between two living organism, where in which one benefits from the other without
A constant and pertinent literary metaphor used throughout Beowulf, translated by Charles W Kennedy, is that of the sea. The sea in Beowulf is a single object that not only acts as a place for entertaining battles, but also serves as a plot device that reveals the poem’s contrasting views on religion and death. It also gives validity to Beowulf’s position of power, playing a vital role in his character development, as well as the development of the plot. It is vital for Beowulf, as the poem’s main