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Podcasts Take Two
Study links sea otters to improved estuary health
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Aug 27, 2013
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Study links sea otters to improved estuary health
California's sea otters were once hunted to near-extinction, but now, thanks to recovery programs, they are bouncing back. It turns out that's not just good news for the otters, but also for their ecosystem.
Tokyo, JAPAN: A five-year-old female Russian sea otter Meel (L) holds her baby on her chest and swims in the large fish tank during a press preview at the Sunshine International Aquarium in Tokyo 13 June 2007. The aquarium unveiled the baby Russian sea ottar, born at the aquarium 02 June. AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO (Photo credit should read YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images)
A new study shows that sea otters are partially responsible for improved sea grass growth in Monterey Bay.
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YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images
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California's sea otters were once hunted to near-extinction, but now, thanks to recovery programs, they are bouncing back. It turns out that's not just good news for the otters, but also for their ecosystem.

California's sea otters were once hunted to near-extinction, but now, thanks to recovery programs, they are bouncing back. It turns out that's not just good news for the otters, but also for their ecosystem.

Here to explain is marine ecologist Brent Hughes, who's leading research on this at UC Santa Cruz.