How Sea Otters Effect Climate Change by ETHAN HAWKINS https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7 Ethan Hawkins en-us 2020-09-18 00:34:55 UTC 2025-12-01 22:30:17 UTC hello@padlet.com What is climate change? ethanhawkins2 https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/757388333 When gasses such as carbon dioxide (CO2) are trapped in the atmosphere it creates a change in the climate.  Carbon dioxide is released in the air from pollution of power plants and cars. When too much CO2 goes into the environment, climate change goes into effect. ]]> 2020-09-18 00:41:37 UTC https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/757388333 Sea otters ethanhawkins2 https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/757389168 Sea otters are one of the smallest marine mammals. The adult sea otters are between 46 and 64 pounds. Sea otters rely on their water resistant fur to keep them warm in the cold weather because sea otters don’t have that much subcutaneous fat. During oil spills the fur loses its insulating properties. This can lead to hypothermia which can lead to death. Sea otters also maintain a great level of inner heat production to make up for not having fat.]]> 2020-09-18 00:41:58 UTC https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/757389168 Threats to sea otters ethanhawkins2 https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/757389478 Sea otters' biggest threat are humans. They are their biggest threat because they get stuck in fishing nets, shootings, and being hit by boats. Other threats to sea otters include disease, pollution, and most importantly oil spills.]]> 2020-09-18 00:42:08 UTC https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/757389478 How sea otters effect climate change ethanhawkins2 https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/757389928 Kelp forests are in danger of the sea urchins because with no animals that will hunt them they will multiply and eat all the kelp.Therefore, when the urchins eat the kelp, the CO2 is not absorbed and will instead go into the environment. When too much CO2 goes into the environment, climate change goes into effect. Thankfully sea otters love to eat sea urchins. Otters keep the sea urchin populations steady, letting the kelp absorb more carbon dioxide. ]]> 2020-09-18 00:42:19 UTC https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/757389928 Adopt a sea otter ethanhawkins2 https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/757391063
ADOPT A SEA OTTER
When someone adopts a sea otter they are helping inform people about all of the threats to sea otters. Some threats can be oil spills and hunters. When you adopt you are also helping fishing communities and sea otters harmonize together. Your adoption also helps educate people about how important it is to protect sea otters, continue protecting sea otters from their threats to oil spills, and so the fishing industry live in harmony with sea otters.
ADOPT NOW


]]> 2020-09-18 00:42:46 UTC https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/757391063 Kelp forests ethanhawkins2 https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/770026877 Kelp forests are one of the best plants for absorbing carbon dioxide; this is also where sea otters live. Kelp forests during photosynthesis withdraw CO2 from the atmosphere just like land-based plants.They convert the carbon dioxide to energy to build up their structure. Kelp forests that are sustained by the sea otters take in 12 times as much CO2 than kelp forests that allows the urchins to eat the kelp. ]]> 2020-09-22 20:46:15 UTC https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/770026877 Sea otters role in the environment ethanhawkins2 https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/770049896 Sea otters' role in their environment has a great effect on other species. Since the sea otters are top predators in their ecosystem they are essential for preserving the stability of the nearshore ecosystems. Some nearshore ecosystems could be embayments, estuaries, and kelp forests.

]]> 2020-09-22 20:55:55 UTC https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/770049896 How sea otters became protected ethanhawkins2 https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/770060203 During the 1741-1911 fur trade and the peak of hunting, almost 15,000 sea otters died during 1804 and 1807. Sea otters then got additional protection from the Marine Mammal Protection Act and from the Endangered Species Act. But the sea otters still are in danger of their primary threat which is an oil spill. In order for otters to be removed from the Endangered Species Act the population would have to be greater than 3,090 for three years in a row. ]]> 2020-09-22 21:00:36 UTC https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/770060203 Work Cited ethanhawkins2 https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/780842436 1. https://www.mmc.gov/priority-topics/species-of-concern/southern-sea-otter/#:~:text=Listed%20as%20threatened%20under%20the,the%20Marine%20Mammal%20Protection%20Act.&text=Availability%20of%20prey%2C%20entanglement%20in,contaminants%2C%20disease%2C%20shark%20predation.

2. https://www.kqed.org/quest/65409/sea-otters-urchins-kelp-climate-change#:~:text=Climate%20change%20is%20the%20result,trapping%20gases%20in%20our%20atmosphere.&text=According%20to%20a%20recent%20study,Urchins%20along%20the%20seafloor.

3. https://www.fws.gov/ventura/endangered/species/info/sso.html 

4. https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/researcher-sea-otters-help-to-slow-climate-change/

]]> 2020-09-25 21:56:43 UTC https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/780842436 Why I chose this topic ethanhawkins2 https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/780851132 I chose this topic because I think it is interesting how animals can have an impact on the environment. It's weird to think that a small creature can have such an effect on things and can make the world a much better place to live. I also like sea otters.]]> 2020-09-25 22:04:25 UTC https://padlet.com/ethanhawkins2/wch8733061vrtbu7/wish/780851132