Applied zooarchaeology and Oregon Coast sea otters (Enhydra lutris)

Abstract

AbstractThe sea otter (Enhydra lutris) was nearly driven to extinction on the Pacific Coast in the 19th century due to intensive commercial hunting and the maritime fur trade. Despite successful reintroduction efforts elsewhere in North America, the Oregon sea otter population remains locally extirpated and listed as endangered. Prior study addressed precontact sea otter teeth from Oregon and found they were not significantly different in absolute size from modern California sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) teeth, and smaller than modern Alaska sea otter (Enhydra lutris lutris) teeth. These geographic groupings were later confirmed by an ancient DNA study. The conclusion that distinct geographic populations exist based on tooth size was founded on small samples. Larger samples of teeth, as well as new data on humeri and femora, indicate dimensions vary significantly along a latitudinal cline from California to Alaska. Morphometric analyses of ancient animal remains can be used to examine spatial relationships of phenotypic features and inform conservation biology decisions.