A threatened species is one that is in danger of nearing extinction throughout a portion of its range. A geographic range, or a species range is the area in which a species lives on Earth, including their places of migration. Enhydra lutris nereis, commonly known as a southern sea otter, has been a threatened species since 1977 under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The southern sea otters live in waters along the California coastline. Their geographic range begins in San Mateo County in northern California and extends down to Santa Barbara County in southern California. The diet of these generalist sea otters consists mainly of sluggish fishes and marine invertebrate such as sea urchins, clams, mussels, and snails, and their food resources are abundant.
Current threats to southern sea otters include infectious diseases, contaminants, oil spills, fisheries interactions, predators, boat strikes …show more content…
They are a bottleneck species, which means that their population number has dropped extremely low; however, as time increases, so does the population. They are also a keystone species for kelp. They eat the sea urchins which limit and reduce the growth of kelp in water. Since southern sea otters have a significant role, there conservation is critical. In 1911, they were signed under the International Fur Seal Treaty for protection against fur traders who would hunt them for their fur. In 1987, the FWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), moved several southern sea otters to San Nicolas Island in hopes to aid the recovery of the sea otter species. The main issue that the FWS fears, is an oil spill along the coast of California. However, certain groups of people opposed this idea proposed by the FWS, so they decided to create a “no-otter zone”. Any sea otter sighted in the “no-otter zone”, would be removed immediately. If the FWS cannot meet a quota of at least 200 otters, then the “no-otter zone” is said to be
Current threats to southern sea otters include infectious diseases, contaminants, oil spills, fisheries interactions, predators, boat strikes …show more content…
They are a bottleneck species, which means that their population number has dropped extremely low; however, as time increases, so does the population. They are also a keystone species for kelp. They eat the sea urchins which limit and reduce the growth of kelp in water. Since southern sea otters have a significant role, there conservation is critical. In 1911, they were signed under the International Fur Seal Treaty for protection against fur traders who would hunt them for their fur. In 1987, the FWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), moved several southern sea otters to San Nicolas Island in hopes to aid the recovery of the sea otter species. The main issue that the FWS fears, is an oil spill along the coast of California. However, certain groups of people opposed this idea proposed by the FWS, so they decided to create a “no-otter zone”. Any sea otter sighted in the “no-otter zone”, would be removed immediately. If the FWS cannot meet a quota of at least 200 otters, then the “no-otter zone” is said to be