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USGS · 1003893

The risk of disease and threats to the wild population. Special Issue: Conservation and Management of the Southern Sea Otter

Nancy J. Thomas·Rebecca A. Cole
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Abstract

The growth of the southern sea otter population has been steady, but slow in comparison to Alaskan subspecies, and range expansion in California has faltered. Slower growth is occurring in California despite birth rates comparable to those in Alaska, so biologists have reasoned that mortality is hindering the growth of the California population (Riedman and Estes 1990; see Estes et al., this issue). In order to investigate this issue, research efforts have been directed toward identifying the causes of death in southern sea otters.

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90° N90° S · 180° W ← longitude → 180° E
Source-reported bounding extent: 32.534156° to 42.009247° latitude; -124.409591° to -114.134768° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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BibTeXRIS

Nancy J. Thomas, Rebecca A. Cole. 1996. The risk of disease and threats to the wild population. Special Issue: Conservation and Management of the Southern Sea Otter. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/1003893

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USGS1996

Comparative demography of sea otter populations

Population trends are poorly documented and demographic information is typically lacking for many carnivorous mammals. The sea otter ( Enhydru lutris ) has a well known history of decline and recovery, and while many other species have declined as precipitously, few have recovered so spectacularly. Generally speaking, northern populations (remnants within the range of E. l. lutris and E. l. kenyoni ) have recovered at high rates while recovery of the southern sea olter ( E. I. nereis ), which is listed as legally threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), has progressed more slowly. Our purpose is to contrast trends in abundance and demographic patterns between Southern California and northern (Washington, British Columbia, Alaska, and Asia) sea otter populations. Specifically, we provide (1) a brief review of the main findings to date: (2) a summary of ongoing and planned studies; and (3) recommendations for future research. A more detailed account of these and other issues concerning the conservation and management of sea otters is provided in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Recovery Plan for the Califomia Sea Otter (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1996).

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