Trophic Ecology of Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra Lutris) in Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Utilizing Stable Isotope Ratios
Sea otter populations in Alaskan waters have presented both growth and declines over the past years, which some researchers have attributed to changes in predator-prey dynamics. This project utilized stable isotope ratios to determine potential differences in the trophic ecology dynamics of the nort...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | unknown |
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NSUWorks
2020
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| Online Access: | https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hcas_etd_all/7 https://nsuworks.nova.edu/context/hcas_etd_all/article/1006/viewcontent/Mandi_Capstone.pdf |
| Summary: | Sea otter populations in Alaskan waters have presented both growth and declines over the past years, which some researchers have attributed to changes in predator-prey dynamics. This project utilized stable isotope ratios to determine potential differences in the trophic ecology dynamics of the northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in southern Alaskan waters. Stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope ratios from Prince William Sound otters, a relatively stable population, were compared to endangered sea otter populations from the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Island Archipelago. Location was a significant factor differentiating trophic ecology between southcentral and southwestern sea otter populations (p |
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