Author: Matthew
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Author: Matthew
2 Comments
Ben
1/17/2013 10:03:30 am
Sad but awesome video about an otter rescue.
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Matthew Schumm
1/17/2013 12:21:42 pm
This is a good example of what has become somewhat of an ecological perfect storm surrounding these species. Wild orca/Killer Whale populations are marked by an interesting behavioral division: some are "resident" populations that realy mostly on fish and squid for food, and others are "transients" that have less complex social structures and roam around more, relying on a much greater variety of species for food. It's the transient orcas that feed on marine mammals like the sea otter. But historically, transients' attention has been mainly focused on larger species such as smaller toothed whales/dolphins, sea lions, seals, and sharks (you could literally say they have "bigger fish to fry"). It's just not reasonable for a 10-ton whale to feed on a 70-pound swimming weasel. But overfishing in the area has led to the decline of pollock and similar fish, the primary food source for traditional orca prey. Without them, the orcas focus in on the sea otters. And sea otters are small -- it takes a lot more individual sea otters than individual seals to sate the appetite of a killer whale. Add to that the fact that sea otters have been hunted in great numbers historically for their pelt, and you have a sea otter population in big trouble. And this is a really big problem. Sea otters are the primary predator of kelp-dwelling sea urchins. They overcome the urchin's protective spines by using a rock to break the urchin apart. Without sea otters keeping urchin populations in check, urchins run wild and destroy kelp forest habitats, damaging and eating up all of the kelp. And that harms a lot of organisms that rely on the kelp forest, includind the Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus), the honorary ginger of the sea!
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WelcomeWith Every Drop is a Chicago-based blog, published by CR² team members, that focuses on the biodiversity, ecology, and conservation of marine and freshwater ecosystems. “Even if you never have the chance to see or touch the ocean, the ocean touches you with every breath you take, every drop of water you drink, every bite you consume. Everyone, everywhere is inextricably connected to and utterly dependent upon the existence of the sea.” – Dr. Sylvia Earle Archives
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