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Sea otters have also been observed as having diet preferences, which means each otter may have a different favorite meal. They spend most of their lives in the water, and they are made for it! Pups are usually 22-24 inches long with a body weight of up to 5 pounds each. Im not a botanist. And Oh, Im a parasitologist. And then in the south they stop at around Santa Barbara. Just south of San Francisco, and theres this place called Half Moon Bay, and Half Moon Bay is probably the northernmost point, pretty much. Oil spills contaminate an otters fur, increasing heat loss, reducing buoyancy, and proving toxic when ingested. Such stations may facilitate communication between individuals. They have an average gestation period of six months, although it can be anywhere from 4-12 months depending on the fertilization period and the type of otter species. We bought an old cabin last spring , it was used for years as a summer vacation cabin, therefore maintenance wasnt a priority. The babies, called pups, are born helpless and pink. At Ocean Info, we dive deep into ocean-related topics such as sealife, exploration of the sea, rivers, areas of geographical importance, sailing, and more, with the help of marine experts and qualified scuba divers. What Do Minnows Eat? Updates? Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Sensory hairs on the snout called vibrissae also assist by sensing water turbulence. In California, they range from northern San Mateo County to the southern coasts of Santa Barbara County. Some live in the Americas, others in Asia. However, their diet consists mostly of marine invertebrates such as clams, mollusks and crustaceans, mussels, crabs, sea urchins, and some fish species. What Do Sea Otters Typically Eat? - ThoughtCo Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Once again, its scientific name is Zostera marina. Protecting a healthy ecosystem is what makes them a keystone species. The charismatic otter, a member of the weasel family, is found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Melissa Petruzzello: Kyle studies sea otters, and so, to boost up the cuteness factor of the series, he is going to talk with us today about otters and their incredible influence on some important photosynthesizers of coastal marine ecosystems. The ocean is a vast body of saltwater that covers nearly 71% of the Earths surface. So, yes is the short answer. Sea otters can dive up to 250 feet to find their food, although most foraging is done at depths of about 60 feet. Swimming ability is further enhanced in most species by four webbed feet. Agricultural runoff is coming into marine ecosystems, and theres all these excess nutrients that encourage a lot of algae growth. And it goes to kind of an important lesson that I always used to emphasize. You know, the more nutrients mean were encouraging growth, but this is actually bad for plants like eelgrass because algae growth will just expand and explode. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Luckily, the thick fur of a sea otter provides a warm layer for its body, as it has anywhere between 350,000 to 1 million hairs per square inch. While some prevention methods are available, an otter is smart and can navigate through many barriers. podcast series, Im Melissa Petruzzello and was joined today by Kyle Shanebeck. Otters off California help protect kelp forests by preying on sea urchins - but only healthy ones - showing the delicate balance of species in an ecosystem. Please select which sections you would like to print: Melissa Petruzzello is Associate Editor of Plant and Environmental Science and covers a range of content from plants, algae, and fungi, to renewable energy and environmental engineering. Updates? Sea otters are adapted to live in the water and can hold their breath for extended periods. Melissa Petruzzello: Whoa. Kyle Shanebeck: Oh, Melissa, you know I would be more than happy to talk about that. It turns out that otters dont only have this kind of top-down effect in kelp forests, due to their predation of urchins, but they can actually do this in eelgrass systems as well, because another favorite food of otters is crabsbecause crabs are delicious, obviously (who doesnt love some crab legs? Had a rep out to inspect the situation by the end of the week, and when they laid out the timeline they kept if not exceeded listed times. And, basically, the crabs were limiting how much these invertebrates could prevent the overgrowth. So theres, like, a couple otters that I heard about recently at a biannual meeting of otter biologists. River otters generally live alone or in small social groups. Squirrel Noises: What Sound Does aSquirrelMake? Sea otters face many challenges, including habitat destruction, overfishing, pollution, and hunting. This marking behavior looks playful, as the otters rub on logs, roll in piles of fallen vegetation, or grab armfuls of leaves on bushes and trees to rub on their chest and legs, but it has a serious communication purpose in the otter world. They are social animals and often live in groups called rafts. These things are all interconnected; no system is closed. We're on the ground in seven regions across the country, collaborating with 52 state and territory affiliates to reverse the crisis and ensure wildlife thrive. Melissa Petruzzello: Oh, okay, gotcha. Captured prey is eaten at sea while the otter floats on its back. They are carried on their mothers stomach until they are about two months old, when they start swimming and diving on their own. We didnt get into it too much earlier, but, as a founder species, it creates a beautiful microhabitat. Habitat destruction or loss is also a major factor affecting the river otter. The scent markings are believed to delineate territorial boundaries and communicate information concerning individual identity, sex, sexual state and receptivity, and time elapsed between scenting visits. It was a real pleasure! To that end, I have brought on with me Kyle Shanebeck, a Ph.D. student at the University of Alberta, Canada, and a fellow Californian. Sea otter predation on the herbivorous urchins (genus Strongylocentrotus) enables kelp forests and the fish associated with them to flourish. Im in great company! Some otters will wrap themselves in kelp forests to avoid floating away. Frog Noises:What Sound Does A Frog Make? Instead, they spend most of their time floating on the ocean surface near their mothers milk supply. During breeding time or where theres lots of food, though, larger otter groups may gather, especially among sea otters in kelp beds. Do you need underlay for laminate flooring on concrete? They are also protected under the Marine Mammal Act and California state law. They live in offshore forests of giant kelp, according to the Animal Diversity Web (ADW). 2 What do sea otters need in their habitat? Cause me, I started as a marine biologistthats what I really wanted to bebut then I realized, How cool are parasites? And, oh my, parasites can have a really strong effect on otters and how they act and then how they interact with the food they eat, and then the food they eat interacts with their environment, and the kelp forest itself. However, otters differ from similar species like beavers, muskrats, and nutria that feed on plants. While you may see it at a marine sanctuary or the zoo, fruit is not a food thats naturally found in the sea otters ocean habitat. Kyle Shanebeck: Yeah, I think thats five. In fact, if their fur becomes matted with something like oil, it can damage their ability to hunt for food and stay warm. Can vinegar be stored at room temperature? I used to teach fifth- and sixth-grade outdoor education, and one of the main points I always tried to drive home with the kiddos was interconnectivitythat all things are connected, and even small changes can have far-reaching effects that were not always aware of. Pairs usually undergo mating in winter or spring. There are many studies showing the decline or extinction of otters in certain areas. Many of these have an outer skeleton instead, such as the shells on clams. You are listening to Botanize!, and Im your host, Melissa Petruzzello, Encyclopdia Britannicas plant and environmental science editor. The tail makes up about a third of their total length. At night, sea otters may choose either to sleep on land or simply to rest afloat near beds of kelp, and they often float in groups, grasping one anothers forefeet to create large rafts or pods, which may comprise as many as 1,000 individuals. It is mostly solitary, and only rarely do groups of more than three animals occur. And the invertebrates, of course, would probably do very well because then theyd have lots more to eat, but crabs are much better at eating invertebrates than the invertebrates are at avoiding the crabs. These glands produce a strong, musky odor. Sea otters are found in two areas: The Pacific coasts of Russia and Alaska, and along the central California coast. Otter loves having salmon. But most damagingly, urchins have this really bad habit of just eating the holdfast. Otter Diet What Do Otters Eat Regularly? In my first episode, I promised to share stories about plants, algae, and fungi. And also theres quite a bit of juvenile white sharks in the Santa Barbara area as well. Melissa Petruzzello: Yeah, yeah, for sure. River otters eat mostly fish, frogs, crayfish, crabs, and mollusks, with an occasional small mammal or bird. Especially since a lot of the algae in eelgrass ecosystems are epiphytic, they like to attach onto the eelgrass itself. Sea otters are the kelp forests most famous resident. Botanize! They are much more buoyant than river otters, which have to actively swim to keep afloat. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. A long, strong tail helps propels the otter through the water. Unlike sea otters, marine otters shelter in rock cavities for daytime rest, breeding, giving birth, and raising young. Sea Otter Sign up today to get weekly updates and action alerts from Oceana. Otters' sea urchin diet is a lesson in balanced ecosystems | World podcasts you werent only focusing on plants and are including algae and fungi too! As aquatic mammals, otters spend most of their time in the water. They can live eight to nine years in the wild but have lived up to 21 years in captivity. Sea otters have the densest fur of any mammal, with up to 1 million hairs per square inch. in, How Sea Otters Help Save the Planet by Robin McKie in, Recovery of a Top Predator Mediates Negative Eutrophic Effects on Seagrass by Brent B. Hughes et al. The marine otter, or chungungo, is really a freshwater otter that has learned to occupy marine environments in South America. Northern sea otters tend to go after the giant Pacific octopus, while other otter species eat red octopus. Their sleek, streamlined bodies are perfect for diving and swimming. Many species establish regular latrine sites along the shores of lakes or rivers. Melissa Petruzzello: Oh, well, I love that. And his inspection could a few spots I can tighten up around my house. So, with the increase of new things like nutrients in estuaries from agricultural runoff, we have this epiphytic algae. But in California were on a coastal shelf, our plate is tilting us up, and, therefore, our coastline is very up-and-down. They have also been known to eat aquatic plants and to prey on other small mammals, such as muskrats or rabbits. And thats not to say those forests still arent out there. During one visit Edgar removed a rattlesnake he came across. They are intelligent and curious, and they are usually busy hunting, investigating, or playing with something. Theyre not always found in kelp forests, but it is certainly one of their favorite habitats. River otters use lots of energy and digest their food very fast, so they eat several times a day. If you see a sea otter near you, leave the immediate area. Fur colour is various shades of brown with lighter underparts. Sea otters can delay implantation for up to eight months. So I hope, as an ecologist, Im helping people reach across disciplines more. Otter Diet: What Do Otters Eat? - Critter Control And nature isnt static; its constantly moving and changing. Most are small, with short ears . Males are generally larger than females. Their muscular tail also helps them navigate as they swim and dive. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Whether you are a seasoned marine biology enthusiast or want to learn more about these adorable creatures, this article has something for everyone. Melissa Petruzzello: [Laughter] Lets hear it! To compare, cats have only 60,000 to 120,000 hairs per square inch on their bodies. Sea otters use tools like rocks to help them open food sources like clams and mussels. Corrections? Groundhogs Pocket Gophers Opossums North American Porcupines Sea Otters American Badgers Elk Search What Do Sea Otters Eat? For the sea otter, half of each day is spent diving for food and eating it. So the eelgrass has been suffering a bit from algae overgrowth that kind of smothers it. Sea otters are usually solitary but are sometimes seen in groups; gatherings of up to 2,000 have been observed along the coast of Alaska. Since they dont have a layer of blubber like other marine mammals, they must groom their layer of fur to maintain their body heat and stay water-resistant. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Sea Otters eat sea urchins, clams, crabs, and seaweed. Thats because theres some rookeries of seals and sea lions off of San Francisco on one of the islands up there, and so theres lots of white sharks in the area. They were extirpated from portions of their range, but conservation and reintroduction efforts are helping populations to recover. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Otters are the only serious swimmers in the weasel family. Size: 2 to 6 feet long. They tend to stick to areas of depths less than 130 feet and an average water temperature between 35 and 60. Corrections? But why we call them the founder species is because this actually creates a new environment within the ocean ecosystem, where theyre actually reducing water currents. What plants do sea otters eat? - Sage-Answer Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. The North American river otterLontra canadensiswas once in serious trouble because of habitat destruction and trapping, but as a result of reintroduction projects and legal protection, their numbers have increased throughout North America. Typical otter habitat includes both water and land, except for the sea otter, which rarely comes ashore. Giant otters from the Amazon, which coordinate their hunting in larger groups, are highly dependent on cichlids, catfish, and piranhas; they even hunt the mighty caiman. All subspecies of sea otters combined eat roughly 40 types of marine animals, with much overlap. Their fur is dark brown to reddish-brown. As weve said in brief, sea otters are small marine mammals, measuring 4065 inches long and weighing 1640 kg (3590 pounds) when fully grown. "Otters, Algae, and Plants, Oh My" transcript Melissa Petruzzello: Hello again. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Sea otters inhabit coastal areas and islands of the eastern and western North Pacific Ocean. Sea otters will also take advantage of the seasons and eat more of particular prey when its seasonally abundant. It does not store any personal data. By supporting San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, you are our ally in saving and protecting wildlife worldwide. I will probably extend my warranty, and will definitely use them it the future. Skunk Noises: What Sound Does A Skunk Make? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website.