Sea Otters Can Fight Climate Change? A Marine Biologist EXPLAINS!

#otter #climatechange #kpassionate
A marine biologist explains how the adorable sea otter plays a key role in fighting climate change. In addition to being extremely cute, sea otters are what's known as keystone species -- a species who stabilizes the ecosystem and habitat. It's an ecosystem that not only home to many different species of animals, but also sequesters more carbon than a similar sized redwood grove!

Sea otters are a keystone species. Which are species that play a critical role in maintaining the stability and health of their ecosystem just like a keystone in an arch. While the keystone is under the least pressure, without it the entire arch would collapse. This is exactly what happened when sea otters were hunted for their fur and their population fell to just one to two thousand individuals living in a fraction of their historic range.

This had a devastating effect on the fight against global warming. And it had everything to do with a sea otter’s impressive metabolism. They eat a quarter of their body weight every single day. One of their favorite things to eat are sea urchins. Sea urchins are voracious eaters. In fact, they are often the dominant herbivore in their environment. And their favorite food… is kelp.

So when the population of sea otters plunged the population of sea urchins soared. Left unchecked, these prickly echinoderms decimated the kelp forests. Turning the once vibrant ecosystems into underwater wastelands. Something called an urchin barren. Some of these urchin barren stretch for thousands of kilometers.

Globally, kelp forests lock up twice the amount of carbon the UK emits every year. They support more biodiversity and sequester more carbon than similar sized redwood groves. In areas where sea otters have recovered, kelp forests have not only returned but are flourishing! Growing at a rate of up to two feet per day.

This is just one reason why scientists like myself are advocating that more value should be placed on protecting and restoring sea otter populations as a natural solution to global warming.

Interested in ways you can help restore sea otters to their historic range? I encourage you to check out my friends at the Elakha Alliance. The Elakha Alliance was formed in 2018 by tribal, nonprofit, and conservation leaders with a shared belief in a powerful vision: an Oregon coast 50 years from now where our children and grandchildren co-exist along with a thriving sea otter population and a robust and resilient marine ecosystem.

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LINKS & SOURCES

MUSIC BY
Scott Buckley

ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

PUBLIC DOMAIN IMAGES & VIDEOS
Steve Lonhart / NOAA MBNMS
US Fish & Wildlife Service
National Park Service

[alibutterfly]

KP, I just wanted to say thank you for consistently putting out such high quality, educational, entertaining YouTube content. While the primary thing that drew me here was undoubtedly just getting to see more sea otter footage, I always learn new things from your videos each week. I can't imagine the workload it must be to research and write your scripts, film, edit, source music, etc., on top of your "day job" working with the marine animals. But I just wanted to let you know that it does not go unnoticed or unappreciated ^_^ Keep up the good work!

[suchard]

I love your videos! I think you mentioned in another one that otters are the "gardeners of the sea" and it got stuck with me! Just love those guys even more :)

[TheCabag]

Thanks for another great vidoe KP. Sea otters, not just adorable but vital

[overwhelmtoempowerment]

Thank you for these videos KP I learn so much from you and it gives me hope that the sea otters can save us. What awesome animals - not only cute but so essential to our survival.

[kimberlyhendricks]

Great video KP! I am learning so much about our flooffy friends. Which otters will be introduced off Oregon? Northern or Southern.

[kasvan]

Such important information !!! Sea urchin zombies 😳 & I loved the clap for climate change at the end !! I know your charity stream will do well !!!!

[sarahcarter-ali]

Just 1 more reason to love the floofs! Thanks KP for all the info ❤️👍😘

[Sandy-zbod]

Loved this, will be there for charity stream.

[luvergirl]

Aww, man! A cliffhanger? Really?

As always, compelling stuff, beautifully presented.

[TheOsakajo]

Always learn something new from your videos ! I stared watching because of cute, fluffy otters and learned so much about oceans and how much protection they need . Thank you !!

[jodironey]

WHY HASNT THIS BEEN RUNNING IN THE MEDIA? It seems like the perfect fix for our atmosphere AND our oceans which is dying and people don’t seem as concerned like they are about the atmosphere! I can’t understand why they don’t see that they go hand in hand!!!! People MUST LEARN ABOUT THIS! I’m going to start spreading this information! My mind is blown! It sounds so simple! Thanks for sharing! ❤

[ElakhaAlliance]

Thank you KP for helping spread this important message about these vital keystone species!! We can't wait for the fundraising livestream on Oct 16 :D

[minimomma]

It's amazing that even after the kelp dies and falls to the ocean floor it still holds the carbon.

[kj_wine]

Bring back the otters!!!!
But it’s going to be a fun balancing act - need kelp, sea urchins not to eat the kelp, so the otters will hang around to eat the urchins

[heatherk]

Really interesting video, especially the part about the dormant sea urchins!

[peanutsmom]

So interesting!! I’ve learned so much from your video series and live streams. When I first found Joey it really triggered a childhood memory of a family trip to Monterey Bay. It was all about how cute and smart they were. Over the last year and a half I’ve learned so much about their importance to the environment- I’m fascinated by them!!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!!

[beatakubicki]

Your editing is immaculate 🦦 👏
That was fascinating. Learn something on every deep dive. Thanks KP. October 16 👍

[roselenab]

Thank you KP. I’m learning so much. Amazing videos

[cristaluna]

Thank you so much for this video. Professionally done and well researched as always. Very much appreciated. I have heard about Elakha Alliance before and will defintely support them on your stream.

[Calvin.The.Unfindable]

what a wonderfully inspiring channel, this is totally in my wheelhouse! loved this video, so informative, and really interesting. i will definitely be on the look out for your future video's :)