encroaching speciesare notorious for being turbulent . According to theU.S. Department of Agriculture , a species is categorize as “ encroaching ” when it is non - native to the ecosystem it enters and harms the economy , environment , or human universe .
Elkhorn Slough in California ’s Monterey Bay has been plagued by invasive European green Crab for a while . fortuitously , effort to keep the pesky critter under ascendance have been bolstered by an unexpected helper — sea otters .
Although green crab louse only grow2.5 to 4 incheslong , their comportment is hard to ignore . The crustaceans have taken over bay and estuaries from California to Alaska since their accidental introduction , according to Elkhorn Slough’swebsite . The specieswreaks havocon coastal habitat by devouring food sources and ruining seagrass layer for aboriginal mintage . The green crab louse is considered one of themost invasive speciesin the marine world .
A new report published inBiological Invasionsshows that southern ocean otters are maintain populations in tick in at least one ecosystem . Elkhorn Sloughremains the only California estuary where sea otters have successfully re - established their numbers since nearly going out in the state in the early 20th century . It ’s also the only invaded estuary in California where the green Cancer population stay on miserable . In fact , the crab louse ’s numbers have dropped as the ocean otter universe has rebounded .
The math makes sense : Researchers count on that the Elkhorn Slough otter can consume up to 120,000 crab annually . The study shows that the aquatic mammalian ’s recovery can have a positive impact beyond its own species .
The unripe crab was introduce to the East Coast of North America in the 1800s , likely after hide out in theballast waterof European merchant ship . The ballast resistor armoured combat vehicle and loading holds of ship rely on such water to provide stabilize system of weights during voyage . Smithsonianreports that the crabs eventually landed on the West Coast in the eighties — peradventure also via ballast urine . This is one of the main ways non - native animals diffuse , with thousands of aquatic mintage finish up in new environments every day via ship .
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