RAPID CONSUMPTION OF KELP CRAB: IMPLICATIONS FOR SEA OTTERS IN WASHINGTON STATE

Johnson, Carter J; Hale, Jessica R; Tinker, M Tim; Foster, Erin U; Samhouri, Jameal F; Shelton, Andrew O; Laidre, Kristin L

doi:10.1898/nwn20-07

i

RAPID CONSUMPTION OF KELP CRAB: IMPLICATIONS FOR SEA OTTERS IN WASHINGTON STATE

2023
By Johnson, Carter J ; Hale, Jessica R ; Tinker, M Tim ; ...

Details

Journal Title:

Northwestern Naturalist
Personal Author:

Johnson, Carter J ; Hale, Jessica R ; Tinker, M Tim ; Foster, Erin U ; Samhouri, Jameal F ; Shelton, Andrew O ; Laidre, Kristin L
NOAA Program & Office:

NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) ; NWFSC (Northwest Fisheries Science Center)
Description:

—As animal populations approach environmental carrying capacity, competition for food increases, generally leading to decreased individual energy intake rate. Energy-intake rate can therefore be used as one metric of population status relative to carrying capacity. Focal observations of Sea Otter ( Enhydra lutris ) foraging behavior have been used throughout their range to estimate energy-intake rates and infer population status. In Washington State, previous research hasdemonstrated that handling times for Kelp Crabs ( Pugettia spp.) by Sea Otters are 1.5 to 2 times faster than those observed in California and British Columbia, resulting in higher energy-intake rate estimates for Sea Otters in Washington. We investigated potential causes for the difference inhandling time by: (1) comparing Sea Otter handling times of Kelp Crab and non-Kelp Crab preyitems in Washington, California, and British Columbia; (2) comparing the handling times of Kelp
Keywords:

General Earth And Planetary Sciences General Environmental Science General Earth And Planetary Sciences General Earth And Planetary Sciences
Source:

Northwestern Naturalist, 104(1)
DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1898/nwn20-07
ISSN:

1051-1733
Format:

PDF
Publisher:

Northwestern Naturalist
Document Type:

Journal Article
Rights Information:

Other
Compliance:

Library
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha256:8590082e2044099dd63365bc24ed3c2c312098ec5a508b6a545424c0f452c8a9
Download URL:

https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/53569/noaa_53569_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 937.03 KB ]

ON THIS PAGE

Details

The NOAA IR serves as an archival repository of NOAA-published products including scientific findings, journal articles, guidelines, recommendations, or other information authored or co-authored by NOAA or funded partners. As a repository, the NOAA IR retains documents in their original published format to ensure public access to scientific information.