Author Archives: Nicholas Lu

Sea Otters reside in usually one general place, and around kelp forests. As kelp forests are their natural habitats, Sea Otters do not usually venture outside them.

Many ecosystem services are working to help protect the Sea Otter, as Sea Otters are recognized to be critical to the survival of kelp forests. The California Sea Otter Fund is notable for the help provided to Sea Otters, having raised as much as $3 Million Dollars for conservation efforts.

The modern sea otter evolved initially in northern Hokkaidō and Russia, and then spread east to the Aleutian Islands, mainland Alaska, and down the North American coast. Sea otters have evolved into two categories, one of which consists of those sea otters that primarily eat fish, and the other is made of those that eatContinue reading “Evolution”

Sea Otters are vital to keeping the kelp forest healthy, as they eat sea urchins and other invertebrates that graze on the kelp forest. Without Sea Otters, kelp forests would disappear, which would be disastrous. Kelp forests play a huge part in the health of the Earth as they protect coastlines from storm surges andContinue reading “Biodiversity”

The Sea Otter population took a dive due to overhunting, and are now endangered. Sea Otter populations are covering. at rates of 17-20% yr-1.

Sea otters play a big role in their ecosystem by controlling herbivorous invertebrates. They prey on sea urchins, preventing them from overgrazing the forest of kelp, which supports marine diversity. The variety in their diet supports greater diversity amongst oceanic grazers.