Saturday, December 3, 2016

Heteroglaux blewitti_Exeter


Heteroglaux blewitti

Of the Strigidae  family, is commonly known as the Forrest Spotted Owlet. After its initial discovery, it was placed into the Athene family, however its bone structure disagrees with that.  They are approximately 8.5 - 9 inches in height/length; its wingspan might reach 1 foot - if it’s a particularly large owlet. EDGE notes their striking “penetrating, yellow eyes” as a distinguishing feature, which is a much more proper way to say “they look like they are forever judging you.” They are dimorphic, with males slightly smaller than females. They hiss, shriek, and “kwaak”, because who needs “who” anymore. Everything you think you know about owls is a lie. They feed on the expect rodents, lizards, and occasionally large insects. Sometimes to spice up their diets they’ll take on prey twice their size (about the size of a house cat) or the males might eat their own chicks, because why not (its not actually determined why dad’s occasionally go infanticidal). Eggs are lain in softwood trees and incubated for approximately 30 days and live for a bit less than 5 and a half years. They are active during the day and twilight, again we return to “everything you thought you knew was a lie.” 

This little forest owlet is endemic to central india and is sedentary. Sources seem to disagree on whether they prefer dry or moist climates. This discrepancy may come from which of the 5 habitats was used for study. Their largest core habitat zones occur in both North and South aspect. However, they all agree on deciduous forrest with a distinct understory. Teak Tectonic grandis is noted as a preferred nesting tree by Planet of Birds. While they have historically favored old growth forests, they have recently been found within secondary deciduous forests - still with Teak, just younger trees. Look at him. He disapproves of that Teak table you may or may not own. 

At discovery, 25 individuals were found between 4 to 5 populations. They were first listed as threatened in 1988. As of 1994, their listing moved to Critically Endangered. The most recent evaluation listed by IUCN Red List was in 2013, still critically endangered. Population trends display continued disappearance, declining at an approximate rate of 10 - 19% every 10 years.


As a sedentary species, the loss and fragmentation of its deciduous forest habitats are severely impacting its recovery potential, only ~10% of its range is protected. The species total range, across 5 distinct patches of suitable habitat is approximately 550 km2. It is found in a core/satellite pattern. It’s core is located within the Melghat Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. Which is fantastic! Because there are few better umbrella species than the Tiger! Their primary threats are illegal logging/tree cutting and continued development. Encroaching cities and agriculture are significantly degrading the habitat quality.The Upper Tapi Irrigation Project is also noted as a more than significant threat to the species. It is a proposed alternative to major dam projects in the area and generally seems to be viewed favorably. Utilizing the UTIP would require less people (entire towns, really) to be uplifted and moved. However, if the project were to go through. It’s stretch through Maharashtra would severely degrade or destroy approximately 244 ha of prime habitat for the little owlet. While their are recovery plans in place, they don’t seem to address this potential concern. 


Suggested conservation strategies emphasize indirect ways of preserving the remaining forest habitat. They include limiting agriculture uses, such as seasonal bamboo harvest and limiting cattle grazing. The Forest conservation act of 1980 restricts and prohibits large scale degradation, but allows for the destructive agriculture uses. Additionally, illegal take of timber remains an obvious issue that legislation can’t combat. Efforts have been taken to increase local investment in the species. At the local level, illegal teak harvest can be more effectively countered. Sites which previously contained Owlets are being evaluated for their remaining quality so that land can be more effectively preserved. 

So far from the species which is dependent on increased local support, there is little we - as Americans - can directly do. Donating to support the tiger sanctuaries which contain the Owlet’s core habitat would be a great start (Plus you’re helping the kitties!) Indirectly however, avoiding purchasing Teak would be a great start. Or at least find Teak which is sustainably sourced from regions other than Maharashtra. Should you happen to have local-maharashtran connections, there are a number of things that could be done to support them. Promoting the education of local communities will improve their chances significantly and (hopefully) cut down on the illegal lumber trade. Supporting the reduced/restricted uses of pesticides in favor of traditional organic methods of pest control will help to improve the forrest quality. Supporting proposed buffer zones on agriculture and civil developments will create much needed habitat. Within 10 years, newly planted teak will begin to provide suitable nesting grounds if planted in less-disturbed locations. (Teak can make very nice street trees - not that they would provide nesting ground in that setting.) While I’m neither for or against the UTIP, understanding the pros and cons of its implementation and plans like it are necessary not only to the survival of this owlet but any endemic species it might run over. This one isn’t a keystone species. However, it is taxonomically unique  - is that worth uprooting multiple cities of people? In short: Support tigers, intelligent city planning, understand the unintended side effects of large scale irrigation plans and Source your teak!

7. Other sources! Because you care!









Now here’s a moist owlet, for your enjoyment!

Friday, December 2, 2016

Endangered Dusky Gopher Frog

By Megan Molloy
http://www.nature.org/cs/groups/webcontent/@web/@mississippi/documents/media/gopher-frog-640x400-1.jpg

Description and Ecology of Dusky Gopher Frog
The dusky gopher frog (Rana sevosa) is an r-selected amphibian who is currently one of the top 100 most endangered species in the world. Adult dusky gopher frogs have a stubby appearance due to a plump body, relatively short legs, and a large head. They are densely packed with warts and come in a wide range of brown and gray colors. These amphibians live a complex life cycle; going from aquatic eggs/larvae to terrestrial adults.  
Adult dusky gopher frogs spend a majority of their lives underground in forested habitats. Dusky gopher frogs are endemic of the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystem. They leave their habitat during breeding season (typically December-March); migrating to isolated ephemeral (seasonally flooded) wetlands to lay eggs. Tadpoles spend at least 94 days in the pond developing, then they undergo metamorphosis. Age at maturity is 6–8 months for males and 24–36 months for females. They typically live for about 7 years. The dusky gopher frogs’ carnivorous diet consists of frogs, toads, small mammals, beetles, hemipterans, grasshoppers, spiders, roaches, and earthworms.
Geographic and Population Changes
Ponds where dusky gopher frogs reside.
         Historic records for the dusky gopher frog exist for sites in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. Numerous surveys have been conducted in these states, concluding that there is no continued existence of the dusky gopher frog in Alabama or Louisiana. Only one population in Mississippi was known at the time of listing (2001). Since 2005, two more populations have been discovered in Harrison and Jackson Counties, Mississippi. An additional population was established in Jackson County Mississippi with translocation. Only one of these populations is considered stable at this time. Surveys have established that there are a minimum of 135 individual adult frogs remaining in the wild.

Listing Details
Critical habitats of the dusky gopher frog.
On December 4, 2001, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) listed the Mississippi gopher frog (Rana capito sevosa) under the Endangered Species Act (Act), without critical habitat, as an endangered distinct vertebrate population segment (DPS) of the gopher frog (Rana capito). On June 12, 2012, USFWS published a final rule designating critical habitat for dusky gopher frog and changing its status to “species” and its name to the dusky gopher frog (Rana sevosa). Approximately 6,477 acres (ac) in Louisiana and Mississippi have been designated as critical habitat for the dusky gopher frog. The frog cannot be killed or removed from the wild without a permit in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.  The dusky gopher frog has a recovery priority number of 5, indicating that the species faces a high degree of threat and has a low recovery potential.

Cause of Listing and Main Threats to Its Continued Existence
The dusky gopher frog faces a number of persisting threats. Habitat degradation was the primary factor in the loss of historical dusky gopher frog populations. The areas where the frog currently resides are under protection, but potential translocation sites continue to be destroyed. Residential and commercial development continue to degrade the longleaf pine ecosystem that dusky gopher frogs require. Potential habitat is also affected by dumping into or filling ponds and conversion of wetlands to fish ponds or farm ponds for domestic animal grazing. Habitats and paths used by the dusky gopher frog may be fragmented by roads. This results in the direct death of frogs when they attempt to cross the roads. Within a metapopulation, connectivity to local populations is important for gene flow. The dusky gopher frog also needs to be able to migrate during breeding season. Habitat fragmentation makes both of these functions challenging.
The dusky gopher frog also faces the threat of pesticides and herbicides commonly used in habitat management. The frog has very permeable eggs and skin which absorb harmful substances from the environment. Negative effects of common pesticides and herbicides include delayed metamorphosis, paralysis, reduced growth rates, and mortality.  
Due to the dusky gopher frogs small population size, catastrophic events such as a disease outbreak may be devastating. In 2003, a lethal disease (unnamed) killed a majority of the dusky gopher frogs at the largest population site. The disease still exists but has never been as bad as the first occurrence. The disease has recently been affecting the eggs and larvae of the dusky gopher frog, but not the adults. Accordingly, scientists have been removing eggs from each breeding site and raising them in the lab until maturity.
The dusky gopher frog is also affected by alteration of hydrological patterns due to urbanization and climate change; predation; and plant community changes as a result of invasive species such as cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) and tallow tree (Triadica sebifera).

Description of Recovery Plan
Water tanks used to raise dusky gopher frog tadpoles to metamorphosis. 
There is currently a recovery plan set up for the dusky gopher frog. These are the actions that need to be taken;
  1. Monitor the wellbeing of existing populations.
  2. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oo5Sz2dnW4Q/TX4Dv9YVV7I
    /AAAAAAAAAMg/gb72fivsIXY/s1600/DSCN1565.JPG
    Maintain and improve existing populations through habitat restoration and management. Habitat will be maintained by minimizing soil disturbance and native herbaceous groundcover vegetation loss; maintaining open canopied, grassy wetlands; and restoring degraded upland habitats.
  3. Search for additional dusky gopher frog populations and potential habitats. Searches are being conducted in Mississippi and Louisiana.
  4. Establish new populations through translocation and reintroduction.
  5. Conduct a population and habitat viability analysis (PHVA) and develop the necessary supporting research.
  6. Create and implement guidelines for the use of translocation to establish dusky gopher frog populations.
  7. Update and implement a controlled propagation and reintroduction plan to facilitate using captive dusky gopher frogs in translocation efforts.
  8. Create and distribute public educational and informational materials/programs to advertise and promote volunteer work.

The immediate objective of this recovery plan is to prevent the dusky gopher frog from going extinct. The long-term objective is to move the species from endangered to threatened, however, it is likely that the frog will never be delisted altogether. The estimated cost of recovery for a 5-year period of recovery effort is $3,615,00. Land that has been determined as essential to the dusky gopher frogs survival has been designated as critical and is under protection. Twelve critical habitat units have been established and thirteen ponds have been restored or created.

What Can You Do?

Work Cited
AmphibiaWeb. 2016. <http://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, 
       USA. Accessed 2 Dec 2016.

"Mississippi Species." The Nature Conservancy. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2016. 


Stephen C. Richter and Richard A. Seigel (2002) Annual Variation in the Population Ecology 
       of the Endangered Gopher Frog, Rana sevosa Goin and Netting. Copeia: December 
       2002, Vol. 2002, No. 4, pp. 962-972.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2015. Dusky Gopher Frog (Rana sevosa) Recovery Plan.
       Atlanta, Georgia. 86 pp. 


U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2012. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; 
        designation of critical habitat for dusky gopher frog (previously Mississippi gopher 
        frog). Federal Register 77:35118-35161.


Morro Bay Kangaroo Rate (Dipodomys Heermanni Morroensis) - Adam Newton


Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys Heermanni Morroensis) Recovery Plan Summary


Image From: The US Fish and Wildlife Service

1. Summary of Description and Ecology of Organism

A. Subspecies Info

The Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat, or MBKR for short, is a subspecies of Heermann's Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys Heermanni) which is an endemic Californian species residing in between the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, Lake Tahoe, and the Pacific Ocean.

B. What It Looks Like

It's super cute and I want to squeeze them. But more accurately, the MBKR resembles the Heermann Rat with it's 'kangaroo-like' legs, 'rat-like' tail and size. The MBKR is more darkly-colored and smaller than the Heermann Rat. Additionally, it has been noted that the isolation from other subspecies of Heermann Rats has given it distinctive features different from the other subspecies such as size of claws, size of legs, and length of body.

C. Habits

The MBKR lives in burrows and form underground networks that are interconnected with each other. They are semi-social depending on age and gender but generally aren't very social with other MBKRs. Their main source of food is seeds.

E. Reproduction

The MBKR reproduces, from what has been observed, in the Spring anywhere from March to May. They have one litter a year of about 30 young adorable pups but only about 20 survive. The average growth rate of the MBKR population  and can reproduce up until August. In a 1989 Cal Poly reproductive program for the MBKR the growth rate was 18 percent over a 4 year study. This was a good inkling towards the future recovery of these adorable munchkins. 
Image From: Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat Recovery Plan

2. Geographic and Population Changes

A. Habitats

The main habitat for the MBKR is the soils surrounded by coastal dune scrub. Coastal dune scrub is made up of herbaceous and shrubby plants with shallow roots that use water close to the ground level. This is likely used as the ideal habitat because it decreases the temperature change in the soil that the MBKRs are using for their habitat. 

B. Specific distribution of species

Much is unknown about the exact distribution of the species. The MBKR is the only kangaroo rat that is completely isolated from the other 19 subspecies of kangaroo rat. Habitat degradation and vegetation changes have lead to some movement in MBKR distribution but it has historically been located in the wide area of the coastline associated with Morro bay. In recent years it has shrunk because of changing habitats to be only a portion of its historically more dispersed population. The only observed movement was in 1988 and used 18 animals to measure 23.9 +- 4.0 meters of radial distance in movement, though this number is a crude estimate because of the lack of observable individuals. 

C. Change in population over time

The MBKR has gone from an estimated 8,000 population size in 1957 to no more than 50 at the most recent estimate in 1986.

3. Listing Date and Type of Listing

A. Listing

Endangered

B. Date

10/13/1970

C. Listing type 

6C: Very high priority for recovery but low possibility of recovery success. 

4. Cause of Listing and Main Threats to its Continued Existence

A. Habitat Destruction and Degradation in Morro Bay

Residential, agricultural, and commercial development projects degraded or destroyed most of the historic habitat range. The Pecho Site, a historically dense area for the MBKR, was plowed in 1956 with heavy machinery and while the plants have recovered the MBKR population could not recover from the degradation of habitat. In the late 1960's, other populated areas for the MBKR, like the Morro Palisades, were cleared for residential development. The plants were quick to recovery and the MBKR are estimated to still live in this area but with a decline in numbers after the development caused degradation in the 1960's. 

B. Lack of fitness

The specificity of habitat, diet, and reproductive requirements mean that the MBKR has a low level of fitness. Small changes to habitat, despite the habitat's rapid recovery, can drastically effect the numbers of MBKR because of their specificity and subsequent low fitness.

5. Description of Recovery Plan

Image From: Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat Recovery Plan

A. Find existing population and remove individuals

In order for captive breeding to be successful, a higher number of reproductive individuals is needed. The recovery plan mentions that taking all of the living MBKRs may be necessary because of the minuscule population size.

B. Captive Breeding

There have been successful captive breeding experiments at UC Berkley to breed the MBKR with the Lompoc Kangaroo Rat. To rapidly increase population size, it's recommended that breeding happens with the Lompoc Kangaroo Rat because this has been proven to be successful. 

C. Study of MBKR

When sufficient size of population has been achieved, a further level of understanding must then be worked towards. An understanding of the genetic differentiation, behavioral traits, and more accurate reproductive analysis is needed surrounding the MBKR so that they can be sustained easier and more effectively in the future.

D. Re-release into sustainable habitat

When they have been sufficiently studied and documented, the MBKR should be released back into a habitat that has high potential for sustaining the population. This can mean that some of the privately owned MBKR habitat lands may need to be acquired by the US Fish and Wildlife Service so that detailed monitoring of initial re-release can take place.

6. What can YOU do?

A. Help to make architects and developers more ecologically responsible and thoughtful

Residential developments on the MBKR historical sites can be dangerous. Even developments nearby can have disastrous climate effects especially with the habitat sensitivity of the MBKR. The link to the Morro Bay Mayor and City Council office is below if you're passionate and want to let your elected officials know that they should be protecting the MBKR. This is incredibly relevant. It's so important for all of us to lead the building industry towards positive and effective local sustainable building codes. If anything can motivate people to contact their representatives, it's super adorable animals. 

B. Be responsible with how you treat the environment at Poly because it can effect habitats of MBKR

Each of us can do more to limit our ecological footprint. The MBKR's burrows rely on a very small change in diurnal temperature but climate change can effect ground temperatures or ocean levels that can destroy or degrade the MBKR habitat. 

7. Other Resources

Morro Bay City Council and Mayor's Office

Sources:
US Fish and Wildlife Service - https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=A03X
US Fish and Wildlife Service "What Can You Do?" - https://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es_species/Accounts/Amphibians-Reptiles/Documents/What_You_Can_Do.pdf
Recovery Plan for MBKR - https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/000125.pdf

the North Right Whale | CMoore



Kit Fox_Josh Miller









Blue Whale (Balaenoptera Musculus) 
Alex Metzner
Description & Ecology 
The blue whale, which is a cosmopolitan species of baleen whale, is the largest animal known to man. Adult blue whales in the Southern Ocean can be as long as 108 feet and up to 330,693 pounds. It is in the Southern Ocean you will find the largest whales. The maximum length of a female blue whale in the Northern Hemisphere is about 88 feet. In general, females are larger than males2.

Blue whales are long and slender compared to other whales. The dorsal fin is also smaller and set further back than other balaenopterid whales. In the picture above, it is obvious that the blue whale has a flat rostrum. When the whale wants to eat, its chest area expands to accommodate the massive amounts of seafood and water that enter the whale. Over time, as the food and water is filtered, its chest returns back to the normal, slender like shape. The blue whale actually has a gray pattern on it which looks light blue through water, hence the name “blue whale.” There are three subspecies of the blue whale: B. m. musculus, B. m. intermedia, and B. m. brevicauda2.

Blue whales are thought to feed exclusively on euphausiids or krill. They usually eat at depths of 330 feet or sometimes deeper. They eat up to around 40 million krill a day. If blue whales, or whales in general, were extinct, the food population would become unbalanced, due to the excess of krill. Phytoplankton use nutrients in whale feces to thrive, while other marine life feeds off phytoplankton. People also pay money to whale watch, boosting local economies3.

Geographic & Population Changes 
Before the harpoon guns were invented, blue whales were not really threatened. They were quick and large enough to escape early whalers. After the invention and the realization that a single blue whale could yield an astonishing 120 barrels of oil, blue whales were killed in large amounts. The International Whaling Commission eventually put a ban on all blue whale hunting in 1966, but recovery is slow and only 5-1,000 remain in the Southern Hemisphere and around 3-4,000 in the Northern Hemisphere. Before the hunting of blue whales progressed, the blue whale population was estimated at 350,0005. Collisions with ships, pollution in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, entanglement, and hunting have all caused the whale population to decrease, but mainly hunting before 19602. 

Blue whales are found in oceans all around the world. During winter, they migrate to tropical waters to mate5. The range of blue whales in the North Atlantic ranges from north of Baffin Bay and the Greenland Sea. In the eastern United States, blue whales are rare, although there have been few sightings. They are present in the Gulf of St. Lawrence but leave during winter and return during spring when the ice breaks up. Over 320 blue whales have been photo-identified in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Sighting off the west coast of Iceland have increased at about 5 percent each year. Blue whales have been found offshore Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands in summer and Japanese waters in summer. Another area of concentration is in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean around the Costa Rican Dome, where sightings are recorded year round2.

Listing Date & Type 
In 1970, the blue whale was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). When the ESA passed in 1973 the blue whale was listed as endangered in its range and also was listed as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act7. 

Cause of Listing & Threats 
The blue whale was driven to the brink of extinction mainly by hunting after the harpoon gun was invented. Blue whales were in high demand due to their high yield of oil7. Currently, blue whales are threatened by chemical and sound pollution, habitat loss, overfishing of krill (their main feeding source), ship collisions, and entanglement. Climate change might also have an effect on krill and therefore blue whales8.
Recovery Plan 
North Atlantic and North Pacific blue whale populations are treated together. Currently, no whaling for blue whales is legal. Whale watching activities have decreased all around the world, which could benefit the whales do to prohibitions on harassment of marine animals. The ultimate goal of the recovery plan is to increase blue whale populations to the point of being able to remove them from the list of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. Overall the main goal of the stepdown outline is to determine stock structure of the populations occurring around the world, estimate the size and trends in the abundance of populations, protect the blue whales’ habitat, reduce human-caused injury, minimize ship collisions, get information from dead whales, coordinate programs for recovery of blue whales and establish criteria for deciding whether to delist or down list blue whales2.

What Can You Do? 
To help, you can support efforts to improve fishing gear by only buying seafood that is MSC certified. This can help decrease bycatch. We also need to send our message to leaders that warming should be limited to under 2 degrees Celsius, as climate change is a threat to whales8.

Other Resources 
YouTube has a collection of eye opening whale videos. Watch here (https://www.google.com/search?q=whales+geopgrahics&espv=2&biw=944&bih=927&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj6pd7Fos_QAhVhrVQKHVMWBCEQ_AUIBygC#tbm=isch&q=where+blue+whales+live&imgrc=hGI2Jw1owth89M%3A) as GoPro captures shots of blue whales in an in-depth short documentary for the search of the blue whale9. Here (https://www.google.com/search?q=whales+geopgrahics&espv=2&biw=944&bih=927&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj6pd7Fos_QAhVhrVQKHVMWBCEQ_AUIBygC#tbm=isch&q=where+blue+whales+live&imgrc=hGI2Jw1owth89M%3A) displays blue whales feeding on krill10.

Resources 
[1] Retrieved November 30, 2016, from https://www.gentlegiants.is/media/8067/blue-whale-balaenoptera-musculus.jpg?width=1000&height=500
[2] Endangered Species. Retrieved November 30, 2016, from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/whale_blue.pdf
[3] Copyright, M., & Use, T. of. (1998). Spider-eye puffers, Canthigaster amboinensis. Retrieved November 30, 2016, from http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=41
[4] Retrieved November 30, 2016, from http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2007/11/images/whale-sequence.jpg
[5] Blue whale. (2003). Retrieved November 30, 2016, from http://acsonline.org/fact-sheets/blue-whale-2/
[6] Whales geopgrahics. Retrieved November 30, 2016, from https://www.google.com/search?q=whales+geopgrahics&espv=2&biw=944&bih=927&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj6pd7Fos_QAhVhrVQKHVMWBCEQ_AUIBygC#tbm=isch&q=where+blue+whales+live&imgrc=hGI2Jw1owth89M%3A
[7] Blue whale: Federally endangered listing information, Alaska department of fish and game. (2016). Retrieved November 30, 2016, from http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=specialstatus.fedsummary&species=bluewhale
[8] naturepl. Blue whale. Retrieved November 30, 2016, from http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/cetaceans/about/blue_whale/
[9] GoPro (2015, November 26). GoPro: The search for the blue whale - A prelude to “racing extinction” Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AHbNMXhCF8
[10] BBC Earth (2010, July 26). Humpback whales feeding on krill - deep into the wild - BBCRetrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_BqC9IIuKU

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Northern Sea Otters by Taryn McLaughlin

Northern Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris keyoni)
By: Taryn McLaughlin

       Description + Ecology
Sea otters live to be 15-20 years. Sea otters are, on average, four feet long and weigh 45-65 pounds. They have strong canines and molars to tear their main diet of sea urchins, clams, mussels, and crustaceans. Its prey ranges from tiny limpets crabs to giant octopuses. Females begin breeding one pup annually starting at age 2-5 years; in Alaska, most pups are born in late spring. 
The Northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris keyoni) is the sub-population located mainly in Southern Alaska--specifically the Attu Island to the Western Cook Inlet. There are currently an estimated 70,000 Northern sea otters currently extant. Most of their habitats are near shore marine environments, with “84% of foraging…in water ≤ 30m in depth” (IUCN Red List). Traditionally, they prefer habitats with rocky coastlines, thick kelp forests or barrier reefs that offer protection from severe ocean winds.

Geographic + Population Changes
 Originally, sea otters were found across the North Pacific Rim—from “Hokkaido, Japan, through the Kuril Islands, the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Commander Islands, the Aleutian Islands, peninsular and south coastal Alaska and south to Baja California, Mexico” (IUCN Red List). But, unfortunately, the Canadian and Mexican sub-populations have since been extirpated. Today, the sea otter ranges in gaps from the Aleutian Islands to the Prince William Sound; as mentioned before, the Northern sea otter occurs from the Southern Alaskan Islands to British Columbia, Canada.
In the early 1700s, the estimated worldwide sea otter population was 150,000-300,000 individuals. The Northern sea otter sub-population once contained more than half of the world’s sea otters, but has now “undergone on overall population decline of at least 55-67 percent since the mid-1980s” (ECOS). By 2000, the population had decreased by 90%. Reports indicate a population increase in 2005, but still remain far below the region’s carrying capacity.

Date + Cause of Listing
As of 08/09/2005 the Northern Sea Otter is listed as threatened.
Beginning in 1741, Russian explorers commercial harvested sea otters for their furs. Most sea otter hunting and trading has ceased since the end of commercial fur trade in 1911; however, 300 know sea otter pelts were being sold on the Russian Black Market in as late as the summer of 2005.

Current Threats
        Today, oil spills are the largest human-caused threat to sea otters. Unlike other marine mammals, like polar bears and whales, sea otters lack a blubber layer, so they rely on their fur keep them warm. [Fun Fact!: Sea otters have the densest fur of any animal on earth with 1 million hairs per square inch (Leibowitz Poma).] The oil hinders the otter furs’ insulating property, causing sea otters to become hypothermic. The 1989 Exxon Oil Spill killed of thousands of sea otters; it took 25 years for the population to recover (Richard).
            Smaller accounts for the decline of Northern sea otter populations include: predation of killer whales in the Aleutian Islands, competition with commercial fisheries, and disease and contaminant outbreaks.




Recovery Plan
1. Monitor populations
a.     Evaluate population sizes, individual body conditions, vital rates, and overall functional role within ecosystems.
2. Identify habitat areas and prepare conservation plans under Alaskan fisheries
3. Manage the impacts of human uses
a.     Control subsistence harvest
b.     Reduce incidental take in fisheries and entanglement in debris
c.      Eliminate illegal take
4. Evaluate the impact of diseases and develop management plans where necessary
5. Evaluate the role of predation by sharks and killer whales
6. Protect from human-caused threats
a.     oil spills, contaminant, biotoxins
b.     create outreach programs to teach mariners how to avoid striking otters
7. Implement recovery program
a.     Maintain positions within FWS
b.     Continue research efforts
c.      Secure funding for management and research needs

What Can You Do?
1.  DONATE to organizations like the IUCN and WWF

2. If you’re an Alaskan Citizen, VOTE on legislation that protects Northern Sea Otter populations.

Other Resources
"Alaska Program." Seaotters.org.Friends of the Sea Otter, Web. 27 Nov. 2016.
Leibowitz Poma, Elissa."Ten Facts about Sea Otters." WWF. World Wildlife Fund,13 Sept. 2010. Web. 25 Nov. 2016.
"Northern Sea Otter." Marine Mammal Commission. Marine Mammal Commision, Web. 27 Nov. 2016. 
Richard, Michael Graham."It Took 25 Years for Alaska Sea Otters to Get over the Exxon Valdez OilSpill." TreeHugger. CBC, 4 Mar. 2014. Web. 26 Nov. 2016.  


Please help save the otters, they’re BEGGING you!!!
https://www.mmc.gov/priority-topics/species-of-concern/northern-sea-otters/