Examinations of stranded killer whales have shown some extremely high levels of lead, mercury, and polychlorinated hydrocarbons (PCBs) . SCIENCE Before reading: Describe a sea otter. Oil spills What caused the loss of sea otters along the coasts of … If you come across a sea otter you think is sick, injured or abandoned, please give it space and call The Marine Mammal Center’s stranding hotline at (415) 289-7325. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/otters-orcas-alaskan-mystery-haeqh2/20267 What might threaten sea otters? The most likely explanation is a shift in the prey resource base for killer whales. Killer whales were never known to attack the furry otters until recent years, much preferring a high-calorie diet of seals and sea lions, which unlike the otters … Killer whales and sea otters have co-inhabited the west-central Aleutian archipelago for much of the past half century, and probably for millennia before. Some of the biotic factors include its predators and prey. 2. Sea otters are a keystone species, meaning their role in their environment has a greater effect than other species. Some of the sea otter predators are orca, sea lion, and bald eagle. Where do sea otters live? Sea Otter Viewing Tips Here are some viewing tips to help you enjoy watching sea otters and other marine wildlife in a safe and responsible way. And for the sea otter’s case, when the ecosystem become unbalance and the number of its predator is higher than the number of sea otter it self, it means that sea otter will be no longer exist. How Does Climate Change Change Affect Sea Otters Sea Otters as well as many other species are in danger because of Climate Change.The sudden change in climate has disturbed the ocean’s temperature which causes an insufficient amount of food for sea otters which causes the otters to … As we all know, every animal has predator and prey. 1) 1st killer whale attack on sea otter observed. More attacks witnessed since then 2) Contrasted decline in 2 aras. Sea otters are known as a keystone species, filling such an important niche in ocean communities that without them, entire ecosystems can collapse. Thus, it is necessary to explain why the behavior of killer whales toward sea otters has recently changed. “Sea otters live in communities with many other species including sea urchins, orcas, starfish, and many types of fish. What kinds of other animals share the sea otters’ habitat? Because orcas are the top predator in the ocean and are at the top of several different food chains in the environment, they tend to be more affected by pollutants than other sea creatures. During reading: What is causing the rapid loss of sea otters in Alaska? As top predators, sea otters are critical to maintaining the balance of nearshore ecosystems, such as kelp forests, embayments and estuaries. 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