Academic Press Sea Otter Conservation II: Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration

Driven to the brink of extinction by the maritime fur trade, sea otter recovery is a remarkable success story, one with broad implications to our understanding of their life history, ecology, and socio-ecology. Sea Otter Conservation II: Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration summarizes current knowledge regarding sea otter recovery and the role it plays in the restoration and resilience of coastal systems. Written by experts in the field, this volume describes the influence of sea otters in kelp, seagrass, salt marsh, and mixed sediment communities, and how their ecological effects can link marine and terrestrial systems. The authors consider the ecological and socio-ecological consequences of the maritime fur trade, the ways in which abundant food and space have affected sea otter recovery, and the potential of future sea otter reintroductions to aid their recovery and that of related ecosystems. This book reviews the latest methods in monitoring sea otter behavior, population status and genetic diversity, and the impact of climate change on sea otters and their associated communities. Sea Otter Conservation II: Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration is an important resource for anyone studying ecology, conservation, or restoration. Covers the fundamental biological and ecological aspects of sea otter conservation Provides a detailed account of the influences of sea otters in community ecology, and the broad importance of keystone species recovery in restoring ecosystems Describes how historical processes can shape subsequent ecological relationships, particularly when species recover to places from which they were previously extirpated