Sea otter diet nutrient composition with respect to recolonization, life history, and season in southern Southeast Alaska
The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) population of Southeast Alaska has been growing at a higher rate than other regions along the Pacific coast. While good for the recovery of this endangered species, rapid population growth of this apex predator can create a human-wildlife conflict, negatively impacting...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Other/Unknown Material |
Language: | unknown |
Published: |
Authorea, Inc.
2022
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.22541/au.167222186.60136269/v1 |
id |
crwinnower:10.22541/au.167222186.60136269/v1 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
crwinnower:10.22541/au.167222186.60136269/v1 2024-06-02T08:13:33+00:00 Sea otter diet nutrient composition with respect to recolonization, life history, and season in southern Southeast Alaska LaRoche, Nicole King, Sydney Fergusson, Emily Eckert, Ginny Pearson, Heidi 2022 http://dx.doi.org/10.22541/au.167222186.60136269/v1 unknown Authorea, Inc. posted-content 2022 crwinnower https://doi.org/10.22541/au.167222186.60136269/v1 2024-05-07T14:19:27Z The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) population of Southeast Alaska has been growing at a higher rate than other regions along the Pacific coast. While good for the recovery of this endangered species, rapid population growth of this apex predator can create a human-wildlife conflict, negatively impacting commercial and subsistence fishing. Previous foraging studies throughout the sea otter range have shown they will reduce invertebrate prey biomass when recolonizing an area. The goal of this study was to examine and quantify the energetic content of sea otter diets through direct foraging observations and prey collection. Our study area, Prince of Wales Island in southern Southeast Alaska, exhibits a gradient of sea otter recolonization, thus providing a natural experiment to test diet change in regions with different recolonization histories. Sea otter prey items were collected in three seasons (spring, summer, winter) to measure caloric value and lipid and protein content. We observed 3,523 sea otter dives during the spring and summer. A majority of the sea otter diet consisted of clams. Sea otters in newly recolonized areas had lower diet diversity, higher kcal/gram intake rates, and higher energetic intake rates. Females with pups had the highest diet diversity and the lowest energetic intake rates (calories per gram consumed). Sea otter energetic intake rates were higher in the fall and winter vs. spring and summer. Sea cucumber energy and lipid content appeared to correspond with times when sea otters consumed the highest proportion of sea cucumbers. These caloric variations are an important component of understanding ecosystem level effects sea otters have in the nearshore environment. Other/Unknown Material Prince of Wales Island Alaska The Winnower Pacific Prince of Wales Island ENVELOPE(-99.001,-99.001,72.668,72.668) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
The Winnower |
op_collection_id |
crwinnower |
language |
unknown |
description |
The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) population of Southeast Alaska has been growing at a higher rate than other regions along the Pacific coast. While good for the recovery of this endangered species, rapid population growth of this apex predator can create a human-wildlife conflict, negatively impacting commercial and subsistence fishing. Previous foraging studies throughout the sea otter range have shown they will reduce invertebrate prey biomass when recolonizing an area. The goal of this study was to examine and quantify the energetic content of sea otter diets through direct foraging observations and prey collection. Our study area, Prince of Wales Island in southern Southeast Alaska, exhibits a gradient of sea otter recolonization, thus providing a natural experiment to test diet change in regions with different recolonization histories. Sea otter prey items were collected in three seasons (spring, summer, winter) to measure caloric value and lipid and protein content. We observed 3,523 sea otter dives during the spring and summer. A majority of the sea otter diet consisted of clams. Sea otters in newly recolonized areas had lower diet diversity, higher kcal/gram intake rates, and higher energetic intake rates. Females with pups had the highest diet diversity and the lowest energetic intake rates (calories per gram consumed). Sea otter energetic intake rates were higher in the fall and winter vs. spring and summer. Sea cucumber energy and lipid content appeared to correspond with times when sea otters consumed the highest proportion of sea cucumbers. These caloric variations are an important component of understanding ecosystem level effects sea otters have in the nearshore environment. |
format |
Other/Unknown Material |
author |
LaRoche, Nicole King, Sydney Fergusson, Emily Eckert, Ginny Pearson, Heidi |
spellingShingle |
LaRoche, Nicole King, Sydney Fergusson, Emily Eckert, Ginny Pearson, Heidi Sea otter diet nutrient composition with respect to recolonization, life history, and season in southern Southeast Alaska |
author_facet |
LaRoche, Nicole King, Sydney Fergusson, Emily Eckert, Ginny Pearson, Heidi |
author_sort |
LaRoche, Nicole |
title |
Sea otter diet nutrient composition with respect to recolonization, life history, and season in southern Southeast Alaska |
title_short |
Sea otter diet nutrient composition with respect to recolonization, life history, and season in southern Southeast Alaska |
title_full |
Sea otter diet nutrient composition with respect to recolonization, life history, and season in southern Southeast Alaska |
title_fullStr |
Sea otter diet nutrient composition with respect to recolonization, life history, and season in southern Southeast Alaska |
title_full_unstemmed |
Sea otter diet nutrient composition with respect to recolonization, life history, and season in southern Southeast Alaska |
title_sort |
sea otter diet nutrient composition with respect to recolonization, life history, and season in southern southeast alaska |
publisher |
Authorea, Inc. |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.22541/au.167222186.60136269/v1 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-99.001,-99.001,72.668,72.668) |
geographic |
Pacific Prince of Wales Island |
geographic_facet |
Pacific Prince of Wales Island |
genre |
Prince of Wales Island Alaska |
genre_facet |
Prince of Wales Island Alaska |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.22541/au.167222186.60136269/v1 |
_version_ |
1800737092739792896 |