The debate is about the rapid decline in the sea otter population from the coastline starting from Alaska to California. As per the passage the rapid decline in sea otter population is said to be due to increase in levels of pollution at some places. This is reinforced by the fact that testing the water at these places yielded results which suggested excessive presence of chemicals in the water due to the presence of oil rigs. However, as per the lecture the hypothesis that the rapid decline in the sea otter population is due to pollution is challenged. As per the lecture, the main hypothesis for rapid sea otter decline is due to predation. The evidence given for the hypothesis are as below.
Firstly, as per the lecture it is stated that, if there was decline in sea otter population due to pollution, then the carcass of sea otters would have been found lying alongside the shore line. However, this is not the case. Very few carcasses of sea otters are found lying in the shore, thereby suggesting that these sea otters are being eaten by their predators.
Secondly, it is stated that there is a strong decline in the population of whales in these areas. Thus, orcas are forced to feed upon sea otters and other species of sea animals because of survival. Moreover, the uneven decline in sea otter population is due to the uneven distribution of orcas. Thus, areas, where the density of sea orcas are higher, there is larger predation on sea otters, thereby a larger decline in these areas. In order to strengthen the above stated argument, it is also stated that the population of sea otters is stable in shallow waters, where there are no orcas present to predate them. Thus, the above arguments strengthen the hypothesis that the decline of sea otters is due to predation rather than pollution.
The debate is about the
rapid
decline
in the
sea
otter
population
from the coastline starting from Alaska to California.
As
per the passage the
rapid
decline
in
sea
otter
population
is said
to be
due
to increase in levels of
pollution
at
some
places. This
is reinforced
by the fact that testing the water at these places yielded results which suggested excessive presence of chemicals in the water
due
to the presence of oil rigs.
However
, as per the lecture the
hypothesis
that the
rapid
decline
in the
sea
otter
population
is
due
to
pollution
is challenged
. As per the lecture, the main
hypothesis
for
rapid
sea
otter
decline
is
due
to predation. The evidence
given
for the
hypothesis
are as below.
Firstly
, as per the lecture it is
stated
that, if there was
decline
in
sea
otter
population
due
to
pollution
, then the carcass of
sea
otters would have
been found
lying alongside the shore line.
However
, this is not the case.
Very
few carcasses of
sea
otters
are found
lying in the shore, thereby suggesting that these
sea
otters are
being eaten
by their predators.
Secondly
, it is
stated
that there is a strong
decline
in the
population
of whales in these areas.
Thus
, orcas
are forced
to feed upon
sea
otters and other species of
sea
animals
because
of survival.
Moreover
, the uneven
decline
in
sea
otter
population
is
due
to the uneven distribution of orcas.
Thus
, areas, where the density of
sea
orcas are higher, there is larger predation on
sea
otters, thereby a larger
decline
in these areas. In order to strengthen the above
stated
argument, it is
also
stated
that the
population
of
sea
otters is stable in shallow waters, where there are no orcas present to predate them.
Thus
, the above arguments strengthen the
hypothesis
that the
decline
of
sea
otters is
due
to predation
rather
than
pollution
.