What is the relationship between water clarity and the otter survival?
To survive, otters need clean water in relatively specific, undisturbed environments. This and their small numbers spread across wide ranges have made them extremely vulnerable to pollution, habitat destruction and historical, unregulated trapping.
What is the relationship between water clarity and sea urchins survival?
CLEANLINESS. Sea urchins are used as indicator organisms in public aquariums to determine if the system is functioning properly. This is because they are very "picky" about water quality. If the water is contaminated, the sea urchins will be the first to show signs of stress, spines laying down or falling off.
What is the relationship between water temperature and otter survival?
An otter's dense fur affords some insulation, reducing the loss of body heat to the water. For sea otters, maintaining a constant body temperature is particularly challenging. Alaska otters typically inhabit water that may be as much as 15.5°C (60°F) below their core temperature.
What is a water clarity?
Water clarity is a measure of how far down light can penetrate through the water column. Clear waters are characterized by low concentrations of suspended soil particles and/or algae, whereas turbid waters are marked by high levels of suspended particles that cloud visibility by absorbing and scattering light.
What is the relationship between CO2 and sea otters?
Research has shown that sea otters are doing their part by indirectly reducing the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the atmosphere (Nichols et al. 2015). It starts with vast areas of kelp forests that, through photosynthesis, absorb atmospheric CO2 and release oxygen into the air.
How does water temperature affect otters?
When the water temperatures are too cold sea otters reduce heat loss by floating on their backs with their feet out of the water. When the sea otter is trying to lose heat, they extend their feet out underwater to maximize their surface area. To preserve body heat sea otters tend to spread out or fold up their feet.
What is the relationship between oxygen and urchin survival?
Without oxygen, very few organisms could survive. The Purple Sea Urchin would die without oxygen, and so would you. Therefore, the respiratory system is essential to most life.
What do otters need to survive?
They can thrive in any water habitat, such as ponds, marshes, lakes, rivers, and estuaries—in cold, warm, or even high-elevation areas—as long as the habitat provides adequate food. River otter dens are along the water in abandoned burrows or empty hollows.
How do otters survive in cold water?
Sea otters' muscles use enough energy through leak respiration that it accounts for their high metabolic rate, which keeps them warm in cool water.
What effect does water clarity have?
Suspended sediments, algal growth, runoff, shoreline erosion, wind mixing of the lake bottom, and tannic and humic acids from wetlands can all affect water clarity.
How does water clarity affect kelp?
Kelp forests grow best in nutrient-rich, clear waters whose temperatures are between 42–72 degrees F (5–20 degrees C). The water must be clear so that sunlight can reach the ocean floor where the kelp life begins. If the water is too warm (warmer than 20 degrees), the kelp does not thrive as well.
What is the relationship between CO2 and o2 and otter survival?
Research has shown that sea otters are doing their part by indirectly reducing the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the atmosphere (Nichols et al. 2015). It starts with vast areas of kelp forests that, through photosynthesis, absorb atmospheric CO2 and release oxygen into the air.
How do sea otters have an impact on the carbon cycle?
By preying on kelp-grazing sea urchins, otters allow underwater kelp forests to do more of what forests do everywhere: suck up heat-trapping carbon dioxide via photosynthesis.
How do river otters survive in their environment?
River otters have waterproof, velvety coats that act as insulation. A layer of fat sits below the slick coat, providing the otters with added insulation. These semiaquatic mammals also developed fur on the bottoms of their feet, which provides them with warmth and better traction.
What is the relationship between CO2 and o2 for sea otters?
Research has shown that sea otters are doing their part by indirectly reducing the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the atmosphere (Nichols et al. 2015). It starts with vast areas of kelp forests that, through photosynthesis, absorb atmospheric CO2 and release oxygen into the air.
What is the relationship between sea urchins and carbon dioxide?
British researchers have discovered that sea urchins use nickel particles on their exoskeletons to effectively capture CO2 and turn it into a solid form, an intriguing finding that could offer an inexpensive way to capture and store carbon from fossil fuel-fired power plants.
Can otters live without water?
And if you saw an otter outside the water, you may wonder: can otters live on land? No, otters can't live on land exclusively. They can survive on land, however, water is necessary for their existence. Some otter species will come on land to travel, eat, or groom their fur.
How do sea otters survive?
Sea otters exhibit numerous adaptations which help them survive in their challenging marine environment. Long whiskers help them to detect vibrations in murky waters and sensitive forepaws, with retractable claws, help them to groom, locate and capture prey underwater, and use tools.
How do otters survive?
The mammals have thick, protective fur to help them keep warm while swimming in cold waters. They have short legs, webbed feet for faster swimming, and a long, narrow body and flattened head for streamlined movement in the water. A long, strong tail helps propels the otter through the water.
How are otters waterproof?
Their nostrils and ears close to keep water out, and waterproof fur keeps them warm. They must carefully groom their fur and furry undercoat to keep them clean and sealed off to water, because they're not covered in a fatty layer like other seagoing creatures.
How does the turbidity of water influence the water ecosystem?
Turbidity affects the growth rate of algae (micro-aquatic plants) and other aquatic plants in streams and lakes because increased turbidity causes a decrease in the amount of light for photosynthesis. Turbidity can also increase water temperature because suspended particles absorb more heat.
What does kelp need to survive?
Kelp forests grow best in nutrient-rich, clear waters whose temperatures are between 42–72 degrees F (5–20 degrees C). The water must be clear so that sunlight can reach the ocean floor where the kelp life begins. If the water is too warm (warmer than 20 degrees), the kelp does not thrive as well.
Why do kelp forests need otters?
As top predators, sea otters are critical to maintaining the balance of nearshore ecosystems, such as kelp forests, embayments and estuaries. Without sea otters, sea urchins can overpopulate the sea floor and devour the kelp forests that provide cover and food for many other marine animals.
What is the relationship between o2 and sea otters?
Research has shown that sea otters are doing their part by indirectly reducing the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the atmosphere (Nichols et al. 2015). It starts with vast areas of kelp forests that, through photosynthesis, absorb atmospheric CO2 and release oxygen into the air.
How does carbon dioxide affect sea otter?
Sea otters eat sea urchins, which means that there are fewer sea urchins to eat kelp, allowing the kelp population to flourish and absorb 12 times more carbon dioxide than it would without the sea otters. When carbon dioxide is released into the air, it traps heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
What is the symbiotic relationship between otters and kelp?
relationship because both species benefit from the interaction. The sea otters help the kelp by eating the sea urchins because if there is too big of a population of sea urchins the kelp is endangered. The kelp in return provides and anchors for the sea otters while they are sleeping and doing daily activities.
What are two behavioral adaptations of a river otter?
Behavioral adaptations Like many other mammals, otters make use of sheltered spaces to keep warm. Old beaver lodges are a popular choice. Space under logs or roots or in dense vegetation are sometimes used, as are abandoned burrows of woodchucks or other animals.
How does carbon dioxide affect sea otters?
Research has shown that sea otters are doing their part by indirectly reducing the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the atmosphere (Nichols et al. 2015). It starts with vast areas of kelp forests that, through photosynthesis, absorb atmospheric CO2 and release oxygen into the air.
How do otters survive in water?
The mammals have thick, protective fur to help them keep warm while swimming in cold waters. They have short legs, webbed feet for faster swimming, and a long, narrow body and flattened head for streamlined movement in the water. A long, strong tail helps propels the otter through the water.
How do sea otters adaptations help them survive?
Sea otters exhibit numerous adaptations which help them survive in their challenging marine environment. Long whiskers help them to detect vibrations in murky waters and sensitive forepaws, with retractable claws, help them to groom, locate and capture prey underwater, and use tools.