Sea Otter Conservation (eBook)

James L. Bodkin, Shawn Larson, Glenn R VanBlaricom (Herausgeber)

eBook Download: PDF | EPUB

2014 | 1. Auflage
468 Seiten
Elsevier Science (Verlag)
978-0-12-801687-9 (ISBN)

Infos

Sea otters are good indicators of ocean health. In addition, they are a keystone species, offering a stabilizing effect on ecosystem, controlling sea urchin populations that would otherwise inflict damage to kelp forest ecosystems. The kelp forest ecosystem is crucial for marine organisms and contains coastal erosion. With the concerns about the imperiled status of sea otter populations in California, Aleutian Archipelago and coastal areas of Russia and Japan, the last several years have shown growth of interest culturally and politically in the status and preservation of sea otter populations. Sea Otter Conservation brings together the vast knowledge of well-respected leaders in the field, offering insight into the more than 100 years of conservation and research that have resulted in recovery from near extinction. This publication assesses the issues influencing prospects for continued conservation and recovery of the sea otter populations and provides insight into how to handle future global changes. - Covers scientific, cultural, economic and political components of sea otter conservation - Provides guidance on how to manage threats to the sea otter populations in the face of future global changes - Highlights the effects that interactions of coastal animals have with the marine ecosystem

Inhalt

Front Cover 1
Sea Otter Conservation 4
Copyright Page 5
Dedication 6
Contents 8
List of Contributors 16
Chapter Reviewers 18
Chapter 1: Editor: Glenn R. VanBlaricom 18
Chapter 2: Editor: James L. Bodkin 18
Chapter 3: Editor: Glenn R. VanBlaricom 18
Chapter 4: Editor: Shawn E. Larson 18
Chapter 5: Editor: James L. Bodkin 18
Chapter 6: Editor: James L. Bodkin 18
Chapter 7: Editor: Shawn E. Larson 18
Chapter 8: Editor: Shawn E. Larson 19
Chapter 9: Editor: Shawn E. Larson 19
Chapter 10: Editor: James L. Bodkin 19
Chapter 11: Editor: Shawn E. Larson 19
Chapter 12: Editor: Shawn E. Larson 19
Chapter 13: Editor: James L. Bodkin 19
Chapter 14: Editor: James L. Bodkin 19
Preface 20
1 The Conservation of Sea Otters: A Prelude 22
Introduction 23
Natural History 26
Conservation Successes and Challenges 28
The Fur Trade 28
Recovery 29
Oil Spills 29
Predation 30
Genetic Diversity 31
Subspecific Taxonomy, Stocks, and Management 31
Apex Predator, Keystone Species, and Food Limitation 32
Sources of Mortality 33
Rehabilitation 34
Interactions with People 34
Conclusion 35
References 36
2 Natural History, Ecology, and the Conservation and Management of Sea Otters 40
History 42
Form and Function 48
Insulation 48
Metabolic Rate 48
Life History 49
Associated Species 51
Autotrophs 51
Macroinvertebrates 52
Parasites and Pathogens 52
Food Web 53
Ecosystems 54
Human Emotions 55
Discussion 56
References 58
3 Historic and Contemporary Status of Sea Otters in the North Pacific 64
Introduction 65
Historic Distribution and Abundance 65
The Maritime Fur Trade 66
Early Twentieth Century Recovery and Conservation 68
Translocations Mid-Twentieth Century 70
Late Twentieth Century 72
Recent Population Abundance 74
Spatial Scale of Population Structuring 76
Prince William Sound 77
Southeast Alaska 77
Conclusion 79
Acknowledgments 80
References 80
4 Challenges to Sea Otter Recovery and Conservation 84
Introduction 84
Defining Threats: Scale and Scope 86
Threats: Past, Present and Future 88
Human Take 88
Fisheries 90
Other Accidental Mortality 91
Mortality from Nuclear Testing (Amchitka Island, Aleutian Chain) 92
Predation (Other than Human) 92
Competition and Resource Limitation 97
Oil and other Contaminants 98
Disease 103
Habitat Loss or Degradation 103
Natural Hazards 104
Genetic Diversity 105
Density-Dependent Threats 105
Climate Change 107
Conclusion 108
References 109
5 Sea Otter Conservation Genetics 118
Introduction 118
The Sea Otter Story and Conservation Genetics 121
Conservation Genetic Approaches 122
Samples 122
Methods 127
Nuclear 127
Mitochondrial DNA 128
Adaptive Genetics 128
Sea Otter Genetic Research Findings 129
Genetic Diversity 129
Population Structure 131
Inbreeding and Genetic Problems in Small, Isolated Populations 133
Future Work 135
Nuclear Variability and Genetic Fingerprinting 135
Sequencing 136
Conclusion 137
References 138
6 Evaluating the Status of Individuals and Populations: Advantages of Multiple Approaches and Time Scales 142
Introduction 143
The North Pacific Example 144
Tools of the Trade 145
Energetic Tools 147
Energy Intake Rate 147
Total Foraging Effort 148
Morphometric Tools 149
Body Condition 149
Growth Rates and Structural Body Size 158
Demographic Tools 163
Demographic Rates 163
Emerging Tools 165
Dietary Diversity 165
Community Structure 166
Spatial Distribution 167
Gene Transcription 168
Conclusion 170
Acknowledgments 173
References 173
7 Veterinary Medicine and Sea Otter Conservation 180
Unique Features in Natural History Are Important 181
Veterinary Medicine and the Evolution of Sea Otter Capture and Handling 183
Physical and Chemical Immobilization of Sea Otters 189
Role of Sea Otter Anatomy and Physiology on Conservation 190
The Veterinary Contribution to Sea Otter Conservation 194
Sea Otter Conservation, Disease, and Veterinary Medicine 198
Future Roles of Veterinary Medicine in Sea Otter Conservation 209
References 212
8 Sea Otters in Captivity: Applications and Implications of Husbandry Development, Public Display, Scientific Research and ... 218
Introduction 219
Part One: Small Numbers of Sea Otters in Captivity 220
Background and History 220
Conservation Value of Captive Animals in Shaping Public Perceptions 221
Conservation Value of Research on Resident Animals in Zoos and Aquaria 223
Values and Benefits of Aquarium Staffs as Resources for Sea Otter Conservation 224
Pioneering Research Projects 225
Soviet Projects, Medney Island and Kola Peninsula, 1932–1940 225
US Projects at Amchitka Island, 1951–1957 229
Review of the History of Research on Captive Sea Otters in Zoos, Aquaria, Research Facilities, Research Vessels, and Tempor... 232
Early Observations in Zoos and Aquaria 232
Studies of Sensory Acuity 232
Studies of Anatomy, Physiology, and Metabolism 233
Reproduction and Pup Development 235
Foraging, Dietary Preferences and Sensitivity to Natural Toxins in Prey 236
Mitigation of By-Catch Risks 237
Experimental Studies of Effects of Fouling by Crude Oil 237
Part Two: Temporary Holding of Large Numbers of Wild Animals 239
The Translocation of Sea Otters to SNI, California: Benefits and Insights from the Captive Phase for Sea Otter Conservation 240
Background 240
Facilities and Protocols 240
Observations of Feeding Rates 241
Impacts on Institutional Water Quality 244
Stress Signs and “Captivity Stress Syndrome” 244
Rescue and Rehabilitation of Sea Otters Influenced by the EVOS 246
Discussion 247
Acknowledgments 250
References 250
9 The Value of Rescuing, Treating, and Releasing Live-Stranded Sea Otters 256
Introduction 256
Sea Otter Strandings and Stranding Response 258
Caseload Management and Ethical Challenges 262
The Surrogacy Project 266
Creating Value 270
Conclusion 271
References 272
10 The Use of Quantitative Models in Sea Otter Conservation 278
Introduction 278
Models of Behavior 280
Models of Population Dynamics 292
Models of Community Dynamics 302
Some Examples: Applied Conservation Models 305
Conclusion 308
References 316
11 First Nations Perspectives on Sea Otter Conservation in British Columbia and Alaska: Insights into Coupled Human–Ocean S... 322
Introduction: Regime Shifts and Transformations along North America’s Northwest Coast 323
Sea Otter Use in Ancient Times 329
Evidence of Prehistoric Sea Otter Population Reduction 330
Evidence of Prehistoric Trophic Cascades 331
Trophic Cascades of the Nineteenth Century 332
Ancient Governance and Management Protocols of Coastal Marine Resources and Sea Otters 333
Evidence of Coastal Conservation and Management in Deep Time 333
Ancient Marine Tenure System 334
Contingent Proprietorship, Public Accountability, and Reciprocity 334
Ancient Sea Otter Hunting Practices and Evidence for Spatial Management 336
Traditional Principles of Stewardship and Sustainability 337
Balancing the Needs of People and Nature: First Nations Perspectives 338
Reconciling Worldviews 340
Who Decides How Much? 341
Restoring to What? 342
Can Traditional Governance and Management Practices Be Applied Today? 342
The Future: Preparing for and Adapting to Change 344
Navigating Towards Ecological and Social Resilience on the Northwest Coast 345
Acknowledgments 347
References 347
12 Shellfish Fishery Conflicts and Perceptions of Sea Otters in California and Alaska 354
California 356
The Sea Otter–Abalone Fishery Conflict of the 1960s–1970s 356
A Plan to Move Sea Otters: The Southern Sea Otter Translocation Program, 1987–2012 364
Alaska 371
The Sea Otter–Shellfish Fishery Conflict in Southeast Alaska 371
Conclusion 383
Disclaimer 385
Acknowledgments 385
References 385
13 Conservation in Practice 390
Introduction 390
Impact of the Commercial Fur Trade on Sea Otter Populations 392
Laws and Treaties to Protect Sea Otters 393
The International Fur Seal Treaty of 1911 394
Laws Protecting Sea Otters Within Three-Nautical-Mile Territorial Limits 395
Japan and Russia 395
United States 395
Canada 396
Reflection on Effectiveness of Early Laws 396
Reintroduction of Sea Otters 397
Reintroduction of Sea Otters to British Columbia 397
Protecting Habitat 403
Endangered Species Legislation 404
Canada’s SARA 405
Species Recovery Versus Ecological Community Recovery 406
Conclusion 409
Acknowledgments 410
References 410
14 Synopsis of the History of Sea Otter Conservation in the United States 416
Introduction 416
Protection and Security of Fur-Bearing Mammals in Alaskan Territorial Waters in the Nineteenth Century, Following the 1867 ... 418
Protection of Sea Otters in International Waters 419
Protective Laws and Protocols in the Individual States 421
Pioneering Conservation Actions in California 421
Development of Contemporary Protocols of Individual States benefiting the Conservation of Sea Otters 421
Regional-Scale Non-Governmental Organizations with Foci on the Conservation of Sea Otters 424
The IUCN Red List and Key Federal Legislation as Tools for Sea Otter Conservation 425
Protection of Federally Managed Habitat Spaces and Waters Utilized by Sea Otters 429
The National Wildlife Refuge System 429
The National Park System 433
The National Marine Sanctuary System 434
The National Forest System 435
Protected Spaces Managed by the US Department of Defense 436
The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act 438
Protection of Water Quality 446
Discussion 447
Acknowledgments 453
References 453
Index 456

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 23.12.2014
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Limnologie / Meeresbiologie
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Ökologie / Naturschutz
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Zoologie
• Themenwelt: Technik
• Themenwelt: Weitere Fachgebiete ► Land- / Forstwirtschaft / Fischerei
• ISBN-10: 0-12-801687-6 / 0128016876
• ISBN-13: 978-0-12-801687-9 / 9780128016879