Introduction
A population is a collection of distinct individuals from the same species who live together. One illustration of how changes in the size of a single species’ population influence populations of other species in an equivalent setting is the decline in the number of sea otters, which has repercussions on the kelp forest ecosystems (De Laender, 2020). In the kelp forest environment, sea otters are an essential species, meaning their existence significantly impacts the ecosystem more than other species.
Otters are critical to maintaining the balance of the kelp-eating herbivorous sea urchin population. The presence of sea otters controls the sea urchin population, allowing the kelp to flourish. Despite this, the sea urchin population rises without sea otters, overgrazing kelp forests and degrading the ecosystem’s health.
The Causes for Change in Populations
Human activities, which include hunting and ecological loss, are mostly to blame for reducing sea otter populations. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, sea otters were widely hunted for their fur, which caused a sharp drop in their population (Webb et al., 2021). Human activities, including fishing methods, pollutants, and coastal development, can also affect sea otter populations (Webb et al., 2021).
The Species Involved and Their Interspecific Interactions
Sea urchins, kelp, and sea otters are among the species that interact in this process. Sea otters tend to be carnivores, whereas sea urchins and kelp are producers and herbivores. These species interact in a nuanced way that has indirect as well as direct consequences.
When sea urchins are present, sea otters consume them directly, which benefits the kelp by reducing grazing stress (De Laender, 2020). Additionally, sea otters indirectly help the kelp by reducing the number of different herbivores, like crabs, that may consume it. The number of sea urchins rises when sea otters are not there, which causes the kelp to be overgrazed and the ecosystem’s health to deteriorate.
Conclusion
Finally, the decline in sea otter numbers is a practical example of how population changes in one species can significantly impact the diversity of other organisms within an ecosystem. Although sea otter populations have declined considerably due to human activities, conservation initiatives have stabilized their numbers in some regions and helped to rebalance the kelp forest environment.
References
De Laender, F. (2020). Hidden diversity: How genetic richness affects species diversity and ecosystem processes in freshwater ponds. Peer Community In Ecology. 1-5. Web.
Webb, S. L., DeYoung, R. W., Demarais, S., Strickland, B. K., & Gee, K. L. (2021). Testing a local inbreeding hypothesis as a cause of observed antler characteristics in managed populations of white-tailed deer. Diversity, 13(3), 116. Web.