Crab-Eating Sea Otter Return Can Rescue California's Marshland from Decline Due to Erosion

The latest research reported that crab-eating sea otters could help restore and save the marshland in California that has declined due to erosion.

Animals are natural engineers that can help the environment. The balance between predators and prey is crucial for the ecological benefits that could control the population of crabs.

The sea otter population has suffered from population decline. However, habitat restoration and animal protection helped otters to survive and return to the coast of California. According to recent reports, sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are mostly found in kelp forests, helping with the essential eelgrass for estuaries.

Crab-Eating Sea Otter Role in California

Sea otters are found in California's central coast, Santa Barbara, the coast of Alaska, Russia and Japan. Unlike the southern sea otter, the northern sea otters are larger in terms of size.

They can consume small fish, abalone, urchins, clams and crabs. They can roam undersea to look for potential prey, and return to land when they get one.

The said species are crucial to the local ocean ecosystem, especially for the kelp forests. They can show the potential ocean health. In California, experts are crucial to save the decline of marshlands. The research findings were published in Nature Journal.

Similar to other predators, sea otters can easily look for their prey, especially the crabs in California. It will help to maintain the number of crabs and avoid the erosion of significant marshlands.

Marine ecologist Brent Hughes said that the crab-eating sea otters could slow down the erosion in California. Hughes is the study's co-author and is from Sonoma State University.

To analyze the role of sea otters in the region, the researchers checked the historical data of erosion dates from the 1930s. The study emphasized that the predator return could help improve the ecosystems.

Beavers in California Seen to Improve Water Source

In California, the previous reports showed that beavers are important natural engineers to improve the water source and prevent wildfires. The said animal can also improve water quality and establish groundwater tables.

Before beavers were recognized as pets, recent studies found their ecological role in enhancing water systems and preventing drought and wildfires.

They can also create essential habitats for many species, including the Soho salmon. With the role of beavers, authorities explained how to avoid killing beavers.

California is no stranger to extreme weather events and climate change effects, bringing intensifying wildfires, drought, heatwaves, storms, or hurricanes. The region is prone to heatwaves and drought due to lack of rain.

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