Otters wrap themselves in kelp for safety
- For sea otters, lounging around is the key to conserving energy
- The Fantastic Fur of Sea Otters
- Raising sea otter pups at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
- The animatronic animals of Spy in the Wild
Why do sea otters tie their babies in kelp?
When the mothers dive for food, they tie their babies into kelp to ensure that they will not float away. Unlike most marine mammals that rely on a thick layer of blubber to insulate them from cold ocean waters, sea otters rely on their extremely thick fur – the thickest of all animals.
How do sea otters help kelp forests?
By controlling sea urchin populations, sea otters promote giant kelp growth, as that species is a favorite of sea urchin grazers. In this manner, sea otters are keystone predators in the kelp forests where they live. They are not at the top of the food web, however, and are eaten by orcas, great white sharks and other large predators.
Why do sea otters sleep on the surface?
Sea otters are often observed behaving in this manner, individually or in small groups. Sea otters spend all of their time in the ocean, including sleeping. Since they must sleep at the surface, they often wrap themselves in giant kelp to keep from floating away.
How do sea otters get their food?
Sea otters dive to rocky reefs, where they collect invertebrates and also a large rock. Upon returning to the surface, they float on their backs, with the rock on the stomachs. They use the rock as a table against which they smash their shelled prey to get to the soft parts that they can eat.
Why are sea otter pups sometimes found wrapped in kelp?
Sea otters are known to wrap their pups and themselves in kelp to keep from drifting out to sea. Newborn sea otter pups are so buoyant they can't immediately dive for food.
Why is kelp important to sea otters?
Sea otters are a "keystone species" which means that they can exert top-down pressure via predation on sea urchins, which are grazers upon kelp. As urchin density decreases from sea otter predation, so does the grazing pressure on kelp and as a result kelp forests flourish in the presence of sea otters.
Why sea otters hold hands and wrap pups in seaweed?
0:123:08Why Sea Otters Hold Hands & Wrap Pups in Seaweed - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThey can just float away. So a mother sea otter often wraps her pup in seaweed when she hunts.MoreThey can just float away. So a mother sea otter often wraps her pup in seaweed when she hunts.
What is the symbiotic relationship between sea 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.
Why is kelp important?
In addition to algin, kelp is a component in some fertilizers, a healthy ingredient in food, and a potential alternative energy source. The habitat itself provides humans with many benefits known as ecosystem services. Ocean currents are slowed by drag from the large kelps.
How do sea otters protect themselves?
How do sea otters protect themselves? Sea otters have three basic ways to escape predators: fleeing; taking refuge in the kelp where they live; and coming up on land. They also have strong teeth they can use in interactions with other sea otters.
Do otters tie their babies to seaweed?
Wrapping pups in seaweed: Sea otter pups are born without the ability to swim. Luckily their coat keeps them buoyant but their mother still has to carry them around wherever they go. When she needs to hunt for food the mother will wrap the pup in seaweed or kelp to keep the pup from floating away.
Why do otters hold up their babies?
First, male otters sometimes hold pups ransom to force their mothers to give up some of their food. Here's how biologists Heidi Pearson and Randall Davis describe it: A male approached a pup floating on the surface while its mother was diving for food. The male forced the pup under water as if trying to drown it.
Do sea otters wrap their babies in kelp?
0:453:09Otter Moms Wrap Their Babies in Seaweed Blankets | The DodoYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThey swaddle their pups in a seaweed blanket. The seaweed helps keep the baby safe and secure untilMoreThey swaddle their pups in a seaweed blanket. The seaweed helps keep the baby safe and secure until mom comes back with dinner even as the babies grow up and learn to swim on their own otter families
Why do otters live in kelp forests?
The presence of sea otters can protect a kelp forest. They eat large amounts of sea urchins, which keeps the creature's numbers in check and prevents the destruction of the kelp forest. Sea otters are a keystone species of the coastline ecosystem.
What type of interactions does the sea otter have in the kelp forest and how does it shape the lives of its inhabitants?
This species interaction is considered mutualism, as the sea otter species preys on the Giant Kelp Forest population for food and shelter, sea otters prevent larger animals from degrading the kelp forests.
What animals depend on kelp?
WHAT LIVES IN, OR DEPENDS ON, KELP? Kelp forests are home to many different species, including fish, sea urchins and other marine animals, invertebrates, such as snails, and sea otters.