Roshelle Brooks

Professor Bruce

that lie near the bottom. Certain types of fish

are dependent on planktons because they
consume them for nutrients. Kelp forests are

MW 1-2:15
November 18, 2015
El Nino affects Otters and Whales
Lately people have been talking
about the storm El Nino arriving in late
December, which was an issue I had no
knowledge of. El Nino is a series of climate
changes that affects the Pacific region
sending a warm current of water that
develops in the central, east central, as well
as the coast of South America. The world
Meteorological Organization (WMO) stated
This upcoming EL Nino event (is) among

highly dependent on the cold water for their

own survival and growth. When El Nino
happens fish either migrate to areas where
theyre more chances of eating or they end
up dying. The death of fishes usually always
affects the marine mammals such as seals
and sea lions, which increase the number of
deaths in marine mammals, which make
whales having to go after other animals like
the otters. With the decrease of otters puts
their population at risk for breeding and also
an increase in populations below the otters
in the food chain

the three strongest since 1950, other strong

EL Nios that are reordered were in 1972-73
and 2982-83. Why should we care about El
Nino, because this storm effects the sea life
and the sea life affects us.
Journal Article Meteorological Organization

El Nino reduces the emergence of

cold water that the nutrients get brought up

Sea otters are decreasing in mass

Theyre primarily in kelp ecosystems where

populations. With the shortage of seals and

they are known as a keystone species,

sea lions, it has resulted in the killer whales

meaning they play an extremely important

targeting the sea otters. Sea otters are

role in the health and balance in their

usually floating in the water, they are often

particular ecosystem. According to the

observed rolling in a ball and twirling

Aquarium of the Pacific, when sea otters are

through the water. They continuously rub

present, kelp ecosystems exhibit their

their fur all over their bodies. This behavior

highest diversity of species (2015). The

is extremely important in everyday life for

otters are mainly responsible for keeping the

sea otters because it gives them the ability to

sea urchin population in check. Otherwise,

stay warm in the the cold Central California

sea urchins could easily reduce the amount

waters. Their extremely dense fur coat (the

of kelp forests and, therefore, reduce the

densest of all mammals with over 1 million

survival of many species of fishes that rely

hairs per square inch) is groomed by

on kelp for nutrients and safety.

untangling every little inch with their claws

and trapping the air bubbles close to their
skin (Aquarium of the Pacific, 2015), and
ultimately keeping them insulated.
Southern sea otters live along the
coast of Central California between Half
Moon Bay and Santa Barbara, while
Northern sea otters occupy the coasts of
Washington, Canada, and most of Alaska.

Sea otters are among several marine

challenge they face, hence people can help

mammals threatened by climate change.

by cutting down the pollution that flows into

Credit: AP Image Red Saxon

the ocean. Simple changes like using nontoxic fertilizer or supporting local organic
farms can significantly reduce the amount of

As a keystone species, sea otters are

very important to the environment.
However, they are currently known as a
threatened species by the Endangered
Species Act (Defenders of Wildlife, 2012).
They will continue to remain threatened
until their population reaches 3090 and stays
above that number for 3 consecutive years
(Aquarium of the Pacific, 2015). The
species, faces many challenges and
problems including: habitat destruction,
invasive species and pathogenic parasites,

pesticide and chemical run-off that makes its

way to the otters habitats. It is also
beneficial to use to use car washes that
recycle water, fix oil leaks, and properly
dispose of motor oil. Small steps such as
these can have such a significant impact on
the conservation of this keystone species and
lead to bigger changes like research on
coastal ecosystems and better management
of watersheds and coasts to reduce the
amount of untreated waste getting into our
oceans.

and land pollution. They also face larger

merging threats such as climate change and
acidification.
There are many conversation efforts
individuals can make to protect the sea otter
species. For example, since land pollution
and acidification changes such a major

CREDIT: NEW SOUTH WALES NATIONAL PARKS

AND WILDLIFE SERVICE WEBSITE ROB CLEARY

Not only does EL Nio have an

on the west coast of the United States and

impact on the otters which are closer to the

Canada, killer whales are found in both

bottom of the food chain but also has an

coastal waters and open ocean (Defenders of

impact on killer whales which happen to be

Wildlife). Bradford also mentions, Killer

one of the largest members from the dolphin

whales are social and live in pods; pods are

family. According to Alma Bradford, orcas

made up of 40 members. There are two

happen to weigh about 6 tons and grow to

types of pods, one is less aggressive and

about 23 to 32 feet, which happens to be as

prey for fish. The second pod behaves like

long as a school bus. Killer whales have a

wolves and acts aggressive and eats

unique way of communicating and hunting,

mammals.

it is called echolocation. They use this

method in order to tell where things are and
locate other killer whales. The article Basic
Facts 11 about Orcas mentions that the
Official worldwide populations of orcas are
currently unknown, but likely not to be less

Whale watching turns a profit, while

than 50,000 individuals. They live in big

hunting may incur a loss. Credit: Guide to

quantities and support one another.

Great Whales

These magnificent mammals, also

The killer whales are a big impact in

referred to as orcas. They are known to live

our ecosystem and in our economy for

throughout all the oceans in the world, but

instance whale watching brings in tourism

they are most commonly found in the arctic

from across the world. Also in 2012,

and Antarctic. Sometimes they are spotted

SeaWorld parks in both Orlando, Florida and

San Diego, California were among the top

all the fish are migrating to new places. For

25 most visited theme parks in the world

instance the exotic fishes like yellow fish,

(Halverstadt). Despite the continued

tuna, and Dorado from the waters of Mexico

downward earnings trend, SeaWorld

are now on the shores of California. The

Entertainment, Inc. reported a revenue of

early showing of big yellowtail at the

$606.2 million for the first six months of

Coronado Islands and the El Nino forecast

2015. Part of these earnings come from the

has people more optimistic than Ive seen in

metaphorical backs of one of their most

a lot of years, Miller said. Even though, the

popular attractions, the killer whale shows.

fish might be good for a couple of years but

Killer whales are a great profit for the

we have to look at the long term effect it

economy and the worse, the storm becomes

will have on the economy and for the

the more species start decreasing, causing

fishermen, and the population of fish will

the ability to find food becomes more

decrease. In which many of the mammals

difficult, which, then causes the whales and

will become endangered species if this storm

sea otters to migrate away from their homes

becomes worse.

to find better conditions for their families.

Whales and otters have always existed
together for millions of years, but killer
whales have always been offshore dwellers,
hunting sea lions and seals, however sea
otters live along the coast.
As many of may ask the question
well El Nino is good for fisherman because

Even though, El Nino, technically

has just arrived, it is yet, to be the worst in
history, in which is something that many

people need to start thinking about, because

rain in the last couple of years just means

in cities across America are starting to get

that the worse is coming.

the raft of El Nino this winter and coming in

January will be the wettest month out of
them all, and since we havent had much

References
"Threats to Sea Otters. Defenders of Wildlife. Defenders of Wildlife, 19 Mar. 2012. Web. 02
Nov. 2015. http://www.defenders.org/sea-otter/threats
Health and Daily Care (SeaWorld Cares)
http://seaworldcares.com/killer-whales/health-and-daily-care/?
pos=1&webSyncID=4269c9c9-41ec-ed1b-c25a743baba250ca&sessionGUID=76071771-01c5-1ad0-825979065293e289&_ga=1.186850088.12779433.1442963064

Jett, John, and Jeffrey Ventre. "Orca (Orcinus Orca) Captivity and Vulnerability to Mosquitotransmitted Viruses." Journal of Marine Animals and Their Ecology 5.2 (2008): 9-16.
Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.oers.ca/journal/volume5/issue2/caseReport_vol5iss2.pdf>.

Clark, Fay E. "Marine Mammal Cognition and Captive Care: A Proposal for Cognitive
Enrichment in Zoos and Aquariums." N.p., 24 July 2013. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.jzar.org/index.php/jzar/article/viewFile/19/1

pinka M., Wemelsfelder F. (2011). Environmental challenge and animal agency. In: Appleby
M.C., Mench J.A., Olsson I.A.S. and Hughes B.O. (eds) Animal Welfare. CAB
International, Wallingford. pp. 27-44

Olesiuk, Peter F. Ellis, Graeme M. Ford, James K.B. (2005), Life history and population
dynamics of northern resident killer whales (orcinus orca) in British Columbia.

Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, Retrieved from <http://www.freemorgan.org/wpcontent/uploads/2012/10/olesiuk_et_al_2005_resident_orca_bc.pdf>