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Defense Date
7-28-2020
Document Type
Capstone - NSU Access Only
Degree Type
Master of Science
Degree Name
Marine Science
First Advisor
Amy C. Hirons, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
David W. Kerstetter, Ph.D.
Keywords
Sea otters, Alaska, stable isotope ratios, δ13C, δ15N
Abstract
Sea otter populations in Alaskan waters have presented both growth and declines over the past years, which some researchers have attributed to changes in predator-prey dynamics. This project utilized stable isotope ratios to determine potential differences in the trophic ecology dynamics of the northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in southern Alaskan waters. Stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope ratios from Prince William Sound otters, a relatively stable population, were compared to endangered sea otter populations from the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Island Archipelago. Location was a significant factor differentiating trophic ecology between southcentral and southwestern sea otter populations (p
NSUWorks Citation
D. Alex Mandi. 2020. Trophic Ecology of Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra Lutris) in Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Utilizing Stable Isotope Ratios. Capstone. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, . (7)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hcas_etd_all/7.
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