Surrogate rearing a keystone species to enhance population and ecosystem restoration
Oryx
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Open Access Version: Publisher Index Page
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
Translocation and rehabilitation programs are critical tools for wildlife conservation. These methods achieve greater impact when integrated in a combined strategy for enhancing population or ecosystem restoration. From 2002-2016, we reared 37 orphaned southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) pups, using captive sea otters as surrogate mothers, then released them into a degraded coastal estuary. As a keystone species, observed increases in the local sea otter population unsurprisingly brought many ecosystem benefits. The role that surrogate-reared otters played in this success story, however, remained uncertain. To resolve this question, we developed an individual-based model (IBM) of the local population using surveyed individual fates (survival and reproduction) of surrogate-reared and wild-captured otters, and modeled estimates of immigration. Estimates derived from a decade of population monitoring indicated that surrogate-reared and wild sea otters experienced similar reproductive and survival rates. This was true for males and females, across all ages (1-13 years) and locations evaluated. The IBM simulations indicated that reconstructed counts of the wild population are best explained by surrogate-reared otters combined with low levels of unassisted immigration. In addition, the model shows that 55% of observed population growth over this period is attributable to surrogate-reared otters and their wild progeny. Together, our results indicate that the integration of surrogacy methods and reintroduction of juvenile sea otters helped establish a biologically successful population and restore a once-impaired ecosystem.
Suggested Citation
Mayer, K.A., Tinker, M., Nicholson, T.E., Murray, M.J., Johnson, A.B., Staedler, M.M., Fujii, J.A., and Van Houtan, K.S., 2021, Surrogate rearing a keystone species to enhance population and ecosystem restoration: Oryx, v. 55, no. 4, p. 535-545, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605319000346.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Surrogate rearing a keystone species to enhance population and ecosystem restoration |
| Series title | Oryx |
| DOI | 10.1017/S0030605319000346 |
| Volume | 55 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Publication Date | September 20, 2019 |
| Year Published | 2021 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| Contributing office(s) | Western Ecological Research Center |
| Description | 11 p. |
| First page | 535 |
| Last page | 545 |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Other Geospatial | Elkhorn Slough |