Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve

14 Sep, 12 PM - 18 Sep, 10 AM

Southern Sea Otters are a keystone species of the kelp forest habitat, having a disproportionate effect on the diversity and abundance organisms in the community compared to their own abundance. This keystone effect is also seen in behavioral modification in their prey. Red Abalone are one such species, seen to live in cracks and crevices in otter abundant systems, and out in the open in the absence of otters. The goal of this research is to establish the allometry of abalone shells found in otter-abundant systems compared to otter-absent systems, to see the differences, if any, between abalone shell morphology in these different environments, If such a difference is observed, it may then be possible to estimate sea otter abundance based on archaeological remains of abalone shells. This activity would involve collection of empty abalone shells along the permanent transect line until a suitable sample size is obtained. Shells would be removed from the water to take measurements.

Visit #22797 @Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 22156 | Research

Sea Otter Presence and Abalone Shell Morphology

undergraduate_student - University of California, Santa Cruz

Reservation Members(s)

Group of 2 Undergraduate Student Sep 14 - 18, 2010 (5 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Redwood Camp 2 Sep 14 - 18, 2010