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U.S. Department of Energy
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Ecology of intertidal benches of Amchitka Island, Alaska. Final summary report, August 1, 1974--December 31, 1974. [Dominance of sea otters]

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7313496
A comparison of western Aleutian Islands with and without sea otters shows this species to be important in determining the nearshore community at Amchitka. Sea otters control herbivorous invertebrate populations and indirectly affect wave exposure and the composition of the rocky intertidal community. Removal of sea otters causes increased herbivory and ultimately results in destruction of macrophyte (algae) associations. The observations suggest that a dense sea otter population indirectly supports island fauna associated with macrophyte primary productivity.
Research Organization:
Washington Univ., Seattle (USA). Fisheries Research Inst.
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-S-06-2225
OSTI ID:
7313496
Report Number(s):
RLO-2225-T36-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English