Sea otters in a California estuary: Detecting temporal and spatial dynamics with volunteer monitoring

Volunteer monitoring can support conservation of imperiled wildlife, by providing higher resolution data in space and time than those available from professional scientists. However, concerns have been raised that collected amateurs are inaccurate or inconsistent thus do not allow for robust detection spatial temporal trends. We evaluated the rigor value volunteer one iconic wildlife species, southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis), Elkhorn Slough estuary central California, USA, explored whether could provide added to complement limited surveys. First, we compiled analyzed counts taken on daily ecotourist boat trips along estuary, then compared patterns scientists tasked with this federally listed species. Second, abundance, habitat use, behavior a team trained volunteers, Reserve Otter Monitoring Program. Overall, demonstrated ability detect important ecological relevant wetland management using volunteer-derived datasets. Long-term trends inter-annual variability were similar between agency Moreover, much frequency observations allowed seasonal tidal dynamics be detected revealed less frequent monitoring. found abundance spring–summer, indicating seasonality use estuary. differences lower tides, greater foraging at low tide certain areas. fine-scale use: eelgrass beds used more heavily adjacent areas only few meters away. critical information about coastal improve strategies threatened