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Morphometric and Reproductive Status Data for Sea Otters Collected or Captured in Alaska

Data Download [102KB] | Metadata | AK Science Portal | Project Site | Date Range: 1947 - 2019


This dataset includes morphometric measurements and pregnancy / dependency status from sea otters captured or collected (experimental harvests or recovered after the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill) in Alaska, 1947-2019 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Data collected include total body length, tail length, body mass, axillary girth, paw width, canine diameter and baculum length along with sex, age, and reproductive status of females (pregnancy / dependency status). For females with dependent pups, pup sex, mass, and total length are included when available. For harvested animals, data includes pregnancy status along with fetal sex, mass, and length.

Author(s): Monson, D. H.; Kloecker, K. A.; Esslinger, G. G.

Suggested Citation:
Monson, D. H., Kloecker, K. A. and Esslinger, G. G., 2021, Morphometric and reproductive status data for Sea Otters collected or captured in Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9Q5PD3Y.

Referenced Publication(s):

Tinker, M. T., J. L. Bodkin, L. Bowen, B. E. Ballachey, G. Bentall, A. M. Burdin, H. A. Coletti, G. G. Esslinger, B. B. Hatfield, M. C. Kenner, K. A. Kloecker, B. H. Konar, A. K. Miles, D. H. Monson, M. J. Murray, B. P. Weitzman, and J. A. Estes. 2021. Sea otter population collapse in southwest Alaska: assessing ecological covariates, consequences, and causal factors. Ecological Monographs 91(4):e01472. doi:10.1002/ecm.1472

Laidre, K. L., J. A. Estes, M. T. Tinker, J. L. Bodkin, D. H. Monson, K. Schneider, and M. P. Gillingham. 2006. Patterns of growth and body condition in sea otters from the Aleutian archipelago before and after the recent population decline. Journal of Animal Ecology 75(4):978-989. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2656.2006.01117.x

Monson, D. H. and L. Bowen. 2015. Evaluating the status of individuals and populations: Advantages of multiple approaches and time scales. Pages 121-158 in Larson, S., J. L. Bodkin, and G. R. VanBlaricom (eds) Sea Otter Conservation. Academic Press Boston, MA, USA. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-801402-8.00006-8

Monson, D. H., J. A. Estes, J. L. Bodkin, and D. B. Siniff. 2000. Life history plasticity and population regulation in sea otters. Oikos 90(3):457-468. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0706.2000.900304.x


DataID: 400 | doi:10.5066/P9Q5PD3Y | Date Posted Online: 2021-05-21 | Last Updated:

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