California Sea Otters
The California, or southern, sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) is the only sea otter subspecies currently listed as an endangered species under the federal Endangered Species Act. The California sea otter is also a "fully protected mammal" by California state law and by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. In the 1700's, the sea otters were hunted to near extinction for their fur. In the late 1930's, a small population of otters (estimated at approximately 300) was discovered along California's Big Sur coast. The California population is estimated at a mere 2,000 as of Fall 2001. Historically, there were between 16,000 to 20,000 sea otters along the coast of California Sea otters are classified as both an umbrella species, and a keystone species. As an umbrella species, the protections made for the sea otter will essentially affect a large number of other species in their ecosystem. A keystone species is a term used to refer to the sea otters functional role within their ecosystem. The feeding habits of the sea otters have a crucial effect on their ecol
ogical system, and their actions affect many of the organisms within their food chain. The sea otters can be referred to as indicators of the health of their ecosystem. One of the main staples of the sea otter's diet is shellfish. Their consumption of shellfish places them in an important role in the maintenance of the kelp ecosystem. The otters control the number of shellfish, which feed on the kelp. This allows the kelp, which provides a habitat for fish and other invertebrate species, to flourish as kelp forests. Without the otters, urchins and abalone overrun the kelp forests. The urchin and abalone eat the kelp forests and transform them into urchin barrens. Urchin barrens are areas that nearly barren of kelp because of the urchins and abalone. Unfortunately, fishermen fish the same areas in which the sea otters live for shellfish, urchins, and abalone. This puts the sea otters at a disadvantage because of the decreased food supply and danger from being injured by the fishing nets. From 1992 to 1995 the National Wildlife Heath Center had examined a
Some common words found in the essay are:
Heath Center, California Sea, Channel Islands, Protection Act, , California's Sur, sea otters, Wildlife Service, Act California, sea otter, kelp forests, urchins abalone, San Nicholas, san nicholas island, san nicholas, umbrella species, keystone species, food supply, nicholas island, fishing/net line, Nicholas Island, fishing/net line injuries,
Approximate Word count = 722
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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