Biology 101 - Ecology and Conservation Biology
Name:
.
Video Questions
“Aleutians’ Vast Ecosystem Collapsing”
(10 points)
Turn in at the end of the class period today.
1.
How many sea otters inhabited (or were found) the Aleutian Island chain during the early
1980s?
2.
By 2000 the population had dropped by how much (in terms of percentage)?
3.
What percent of the world’s population of sea otters is found in the Gulf of Alaska and
the Aleutian Islands chain?
4.
Drs. Estes and Tinker first suspected the decline of otter and seal populations on a
disease, food availability or reproductive problems. Were they correct, and what was
their hypothesis?
5.
Describe the association among healthy, abundant kelp beds with seals, otters, orcas, and
sea urchins.
6.
Scientists studying local seabird populations also noticed declines? What was the
apparent connection between declines in otter populations and seabird populations?
7.
What occurred in 1977 that scientists suspect may have begun the downward spiral in
otter and seal abundance?
8.
What is the suspected reason behind the 1977 “event”?
9.
Create a list of the species listed in the article. Next to each name, identify them and a
producer, consumer, or decomposer. Next, identify each of them as a primary,
secondary, tertiary or quaternary consumer.
10.
Now, work in small groups of 3-4 students and build and diagram of this food web.
Draw arrows between organisms and levels to depict their interactions. Finally, discuss
where humans fit into this food web and develop 2 possible solutions to solve this
problem?