Enhydra Lutris or otherwise known as the Sea otter is an iconic species that embodies the rich diversity of ocean life. As one of the major groups of the weasel family, sea otters are also one of the smallest marine mammals. Unlike other mammals, such as whales and dolphins, Sea otters do not have blubber, instead they have one of the thickest and densest coat of fur. This fur coat holds up to almost one million hairs per square inch (Ravalli, 2010). With this amount of hair, the Sea Otter is able to maintain their body temperatures for optimal conditions within the forbidding ocean. Having such a fur coat the Sea otter inhabits regions located in the colder shallow coast of the Northern Pacific. They can be found in places such as Alaska,
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Given the key role Sea Otters play when it comes to the ecosystem they face a wide variety of threats that has lead to the decrease in their population over the past century. One of the earliest threat that lead to the start of their decline was hunting. Their thick pelts were considered one of the most valuable fur pelt in the world at one point and was used for a variety of accessories, like belts, capes, etc... (Larson et al.., 2002). In 1911, indiscriminate hunting of such animals were brought to an end, yet illegal poaching remains an issue for endangered animals today. In order to recuperate a small amount of surviving Sea Otters were reintroduced to areas that they were eliminated from by means of translocation but because of their small population, the levels of genetic variation/diversity were much lower than that of other mammals (Larson et al.., 2002). The problem of low genetic variations brings the possibility of inbreeding depression and mortality amongst Sea Otters (Larson and Jameson et al.., 2002). In addition to the low genetic variation, diseases are able to run more rampant as it is shown in multiple deaths of California Sea Otters. Of the fresh beachcast carcasses found on beaches sixteen percent of them resulted from a pathogenic parasite. The pathogenic parasite is a parasitic protozoan known as Toxoplasma gondii was found, from it two different genotypes were derived. …show more content…
One of the first steps to conserving the species began in 1911, with what is known as the “Northern Fur Seal Treaty”, signed by various countries such as Japan, Great Britain, and The United States. The treaty ended indiscriminate hunting of marine animals. Soon after a well known Sea Otter refuge was established in California around 1941. In the United States they are protected the Marine Mammal Protection act of 1972 and also Endangered Species act of 1973. Also it has been outlawed by the ESA to sell or even buy any part of an endangered species (iucnredlist.org). Today there are multiple conservation groups working together to protect this species, one such group is referred to as the Southern Sea Otter Research Alliance. The alliance is a collaborative team of educated people from six primary institutions; U.C. Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay Aquarium, U.S. Fish & Wildlife services, U.C. Davis, U.S. Geological Survey, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Marine Wildlife Veterinary care and research center. The alliance focuses on researching and finding ways to help increase the survivability of Sea Otters, through an ecosystem- based perspective by monitoring their population trends and what areas need repopulating (seaotterresearch.org, 2009). Well known to many the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sea Otter program
Given the key role Sea Otters play when it comes to the ecosystem they face a wide variety of threats that has lead to the decrease in their population over the past century. One of the earliest threat that lead to the start of their decline was hunting. Their thick pelts were considered one of the most valuable fur pelt in the world at one point and was used for a variety of accessories, like belts, capes, etc... (Larson et al.., 2002). In 1911, indiscriminate hunting of such animals were brought to an end, yet illegal poaching remains an issue for endangered animals today. In order to recuperate a small amount of surviving Sea Otters were reintroduced to areas that they were eliminated from by means of translocation but because of their small population, the levels of genetic variation/diversity were much lower than that of other mammals (Larson et al.., 2002). The problem of low genetic variations brings the possibility of inbreeding depression and mortality amongst Sea Otters (Larson and Jameson et al.., 2002). In addition to the low genetic variation, diseases are able to run more rampant as it is shown in multiple deaths of California Sea Otters. Of the fresh beachcast carcasses found on beaches sixteen percent of them resulted from a pathogenic parasite. The pathogenic parasite is a parasitic protozoan known as Toxoplasma gondii was found, from it two different genotypes were derived. …show more content…
One of the first steps to conserving the species began in 1911, with what is known as the “Northern Fur Seal Treaty”, signed by various countries such as Japan, Great Britain, and The United States. The treaty ended indiscriminate hunting of marine animals. Soon after a well known Sea Otter refuge was established in California around 1941. In the United States they are protected the Marine Mammal Protection act of 1972 and also Endangered Species act of 1973. Also it has been outlawed by the ESA to sell or even buy any part of an endangered species (iucnredlist.org). Today there are multiple conservation groups working together to protect this species, one such group is referred to as the Southern Sea Otter Research Alliance. The alliance is a collaborative team of educated people from six primary institutions; U.C. Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay Aquarium, U.S. Fish & Wildlife services, U.C. Davis, U.S. Geological Survey, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Marine Wildlife Veterinary care and research center. The alliance focuses on researching and finding ways to help increase the survivability of Sea Otters, through an ecosystem- based perspective by monitoring their population trends and what areas need repopulating (seaotterresearch.org, 2009). Well known to many the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sea Otter program