Enhydra lutris, commonly known as sea otter, is the second smallest marine mammal that lives in shallow coastal waters of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Sea otters are often found in areas with protection from the most severe ocean winds, such as rocky coastlines, thick kelp forests, and barrier reefs.
They are considered a keystone species because they are crucial to the health of the nearshore marine ecosystem. Because sea otters eat sea urchins, which are herbivores that feed on kelp, they allow kelp forests to grow and in turn create habitat for many other species. Kelp forests also absorb harmful atmospheric carbon dioxide as well as protect coastlines from flood and storm surge. Sea otters can also be considered a sentinel species because their health indicates the health of California’s coastal waters. …show more content…
The greatest anthropogenic threat are oil spills. Unlike other marine mammals, sea otters do not have a layer of blubber to keep them warm so they depend on their layer of fur, which is the densest fur in the animal kingdom. However, when oil spills and contact the sea otters, their fur lose its insulative property and thus they are more sensitive to fluctuations in temperature. Moreover, the sea otters are at risk of gastrointestinal disorders because they ingest oil while grooming. Following the Exxon Valdez spill in Prince William Sound, it is estimated that the number of Sea Otter death ranged from 2,650 to
They are considered a keystone species because they are crucial to the health of the nearshore marine ecosystem. Because sea otters eat sea urchins, which are herbivores that feed on kelp, they allow kelp forests to grow and in turn create habitat for many other species. Kelp forests also absorb harmful atmospheric carbon dioxide as well as protect coastlines from flood and storm surge. Sea otters can also be considered a sentinel species because their health indicates the health of California’s coastal waters. …show more content…
The greatest anthropogenic threat are oil spills. Unlike other marine mammals, sea otters do not have a layer of blubber to keep them warm so they depend on their layer of fur, which is the densest fur in the animal kingdom. However, when oil spills and contact the sea otters, their fur lose its insulative property and thus they are more sensitive to fluctuations in temperature. Moreover, the sea otters are at risk of gastrointestinal disorders because they ingest oil while grooming. Following the Exxon Valdez spill in Prince William Sound, it is estimated that the number of Sea Otter death ranged from 2,650 to