What makes sea otters keystone species

The involvement of killer whales means that a new apex predator seems to have appeared at the top of the otter-urchin-kelp trophic cascades and reveals, if nothing else, how this view of the food chain, from the top to the bottom, provides us with an illuminating new way at looking at nature and its tightly interwoven components. The jaguar is a dominant predator, sitting on top of the food chain and feeding on a variety of large herbivores like deer, capybara and tapirs.

If left unchecked, these prey species could devour most of the plants in a habitat, causing disastrous knock-on effects and population crashes in birds, insects and mammals. It is therefore vital for the health of many tropical ecosystems that jaguars control herbivore numbers. Prairie dogs are burrowing ground squirrels native to North American grasslands. They dig tunnels to avoid predators and the scorching summer heat, but their burrows also serve as prime nesting areas for many endangered bird species, and act as a natural irrigation system, allowing rainwater deep into the disturbed soil to provide fertile growing areas for new plant life.

The birds are such voracious pollinators that a small rise in their numbers can lead to a population boom in their linked flower species. However, these species rely solely on hummingbirds for survival; if the birds perish, the flowers will follow. During the night beavers work using mud, stone and timber to build spectacular dams.

These create two distinct types of habitat: ponds upstream of the construction and downstream marshland. Beavers use the ponds as protection from wolves, bears and coyotes, but hundreds of North American species many of which are endangered owe their continued survival to the way beavers modify their environment. The saguaro is a giant cactus native to the Sonoran desert, bridging Central and North America.

The cacti stand up to 60 feet tall, 2 feet wide and contain vast amounts of water in an otherwise arid environment. Snowshoe hares get their name because of their large hind feet, which help them remain on top of deep snow.

Being one of the few small mammals that live above ground in arctic environments, they have many predators and must therefore breed at a rapid rate to survive.

These hares are a main food source for several species, supporting endangered populations of lynxes, bobcats, coyotes and mountain lions, among others. Will Latter. How sea otters help save the planet. New research into the complex links of the food chain suggest that the lovable mammals play a key role in managing carbon dioxide levels. The sea otter, a voracious urchin-eater and possessor of the densest fur in the animal kingdom. Photograph: Alamy. What differences can you observe? Why does a plant without sunlight stop growing?

Alternative: Create a diorama or poster, and have each student draw and label a different living part of a kelp forest. Monteray Bay Aquarium Sea otter lunch bag puppet. Vancouver Aquarium Sea Otters. Details Activity Length 1 hr. Sea otters to find prey like this purple sea urchin using their sense of touch. What To Do Demonstrate the story using the sea otter, rock and sea urchin puppets as props. Extensions The effect of sea urchins on kelp forests can be compared to the effect of pine beetles on pine forests.

Snakes and Lizards. Sonoran Pronghorn. Wild Places. California's Central Valley. Coasts and Intertidal Zones.

Deciduous Forests. Great Plains. Greater Everglades. Northwest Florida. Rocky Mountains. Sagebrush Sea. Sky Islands. Southern Appalachians. Temperate Rainforest. Texas Hill Country. Wetlands and Rivers. Our Work. Conserving Imperiled Species. Advocating for International Species. Protecting Habitat. Promoting Coexistence. Defending Conservation Laws.

Innovating for Wildlife Conservation. Combating Climate Change. Fighting Invasive Species. Speaking for Wildlife.

Where We Work. Wildlife Nation. Take Action. Add Your Voice. Attend an Event. As the underwater forests grew, other species reappeared. Protecting keystone species, like sea otters, is a priority for conservationists.

Often, the extent of the keystone functions of a species aren't known until the species has been removed from its environment and the ecosystem changes. Rather than wait until it may be too late for the system's health and survival, scientists make every effort to keep an ecosystem working as nature had intended.

World Animal Foundation.