Limiting Factors
Sea otter are known to be a key stone species, meaning they play a very critical role in the ecosystem. But what many don't realize is that this remarkable species are endangered, and have being decreasing extremely over the last decade. There are several reasons why. Some may seem obvious, while others are more unexpected, but they are all are causes of limitations of their population.
Natural Disturbances
There are very few limiting factors that are created naturally. The largest and most effective although is food limitation. It is true that this can be caused by humans, but it also occurs because there is not enough nutrients lurking around in their natural habitat. Sea otters have adapted to the coast of many colder regions. The majority of their favorite meals can often be found in the deeper parts of the pacific ocean, where sea otter rarely go. Sea urchins and abalones for example, are not always in reach of sea otters. They live on the ocean floor, and can often be over 330 ft below the ocean surface, which is the maximum depth sea otters can swim to. Because they are mammals, they can only stay below the water for short periods of time, and in the shallow parts of the pacific, unlike their preferred food. This is why many of them end of dying because of the lack of food provided to keep them going.
Man-Made Disturbances
Distrubances caused by humans is the main reason sea otters are an indangered species. Because they bare the thickest fur, many hunters target them to fabricate blankets, coats, hats etc. This began in the early 17th and 18th century, where fur coats were quite popluar. Alot of these actions were done in the Kuril Islands. Once the hunters had killed the animals and skinned them, they would trade them with China and Russia, in exchange for riches, jewels, and any needed food. This caused a huge downfall of the sea otters population, which only got worse. To this day, sea otter trading/selling has become more rare. Thankfully, in 1911,sea otters received protection, as the International Fur Seal Treaty was established to prevent various exercies of trading. but other problems began to occuring more fequently. Oil spells have done huge amounts of damage to sea otters in the last century. Alot of the oil spills come from offshore drilling and different types of shipping. The reason oil spells are so affective is not nessacrily becasue it happens often, but because it damages the fur in a very harsh way. The oil causes their fur to mat, which defeats the purpose of insulating their bodies. The water they live in is often freezing, so without the protection they need, they can easily die from hypthermia. A devasting Exxon Valedzoil spill in 1989 killed over five thouand sea otters. Although huge oil spills don't occur often, when they do, many sea otters are extremely harmed.
Pollution has also become a huge part of the reason sea otters are endangered. Because sea otters live very close to land, any pollution running off to the ocean will definitely affect them. This can contaminate their habitat, leaving them with possible medical problems, and a decrease in food source. These pollutants can often contain many parasites. In California, the number one cause of death for sea otters is from parasites, which is almost always caused by pollutants. As sea otters are higher up on the food chain, they are even more affected by pollutants because of bioaccumulation. As previously told, humans can often over fish, causing a smaller source of food provided for sea otters. Abalones, clams, and crabs are a huge target for fisherman. Not only that, but they are the sea otter's favorite food. Many of them have been dying because there isn't enough of these animals around to give the source of nutrient they need.
In the near future, the number of sea otters will continue to drop. Overfishing, pollution, and hunting will all be the cause of it. Sea otters will become more rare, especially if nothing is done to stop it. But who says there isn't? There are simple things we can do to prevent the decrease of sea otters and remove them from the labeling " endangered species". If people were to create greener ships, or were more cautious with oil, it would prevent so many spills, thus, saving more sea otters. Preventing pollution is so simple, even you could do it! Just by recycling and throwing away waste in its proper place, it can save many sea otters from severedamage. If there was more organization with garbage and waste, pollution would make its way to the beautiful ocean a lot less often.
