Sea Otter Foraging Habits and Effects on Prey Populations and Communities in Soft-Bottom Environments

摘要: Sea otter populations have made dramatic recoveries during the last 75 years and today play a major functional role in some nearshore communities (Estes Palmisano 1974; Estes et al. 1978; Duggins 1980; Breen 1982; 1982). otters considerable influence on distribution, abundance, demography of their benthic invertebrate prey (Ebert 1968; Lowry Pearse 1973; Wild Ames Miller 1975; Stephenson 1977; Hines Garshelis 1983; VanBlaricom 1985; Wendell 1986). In general, are thought to invade new area, rapidly consume largest individuals most calorically rich prey, then switch smaller less desirable as preferred species become scarce Ostfeld Riedman Estes, this Vol.) or inaccessible (Lowry Along rocky shores, depletion herbivorous like sea urchins abalone 1978) is followed by an increase cover kelp forests richness fishes Dayton Simenstad 1980). Although may not all (see Foster Schiel, Harrold, Vol.), they clearly effect forest addition habitats, also forage large areas soft sediment (Calkins Kenyon 1969; 1981; VanBlaricom, where effects community structure quite different. Compared shore, there little information foraging habits soft-sediment environments.