The Behavioral Ecology of Sea Otters at Amchitka Island, Alaska

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Long-term, continuous records on individual sea otters in a population that is near equilibrium are needed to examine hypotheses concerning how population status influences social behavior, foraging and reproduction. Similar data already exists for expanding populations at Prince William Sound, Attu Island, Alaska and California. Dr. Siniff proposes to collect data among various individuals of different ages and sexes at Amchitka Island, where the population has been at equilibrium. These records will be compared with complementary data from populations which are increasing. Radio transmitters, surgically implanted, will be used to locate the animals and to follow the activity, agonistic interactions, survival and reproduction. Dr. Siniff believes that such individual-level comparisons between populations of known status have never been made for any carnivore species. This approach to population assessment should prove useful in managing now expanding sea otter populations.