Interaction with aboriginals Steller's sea cow

sea otters keystone species , keep sea urchin populations in check. depopulation in aleutian islands may have led decline of kelp , subsequently of sea cows.

the presence of steller s sea cows in aleutian islands may have caused aleut people migrate westward hunt them. possibly led sea cow s extinction in area, assuming animals survived in region holocene epoch, there no archaeological evidence.

it has been argued decline of steller s sea cow may have been indirect effect of harvesting of sea otters area s aboriginal people. otter population reduced, sea urchin population have increased, in turn reducing stock of kelp, principal food. in historic times, though, aboriginal hunting had depleted sea otter populations in localized areas, , sea cow have been easy prey aboriginal hunters, accessible populations may have been exterminated or without simultaneous otter hunting. in event, range of sea cow limited coastal areas off uninhabited islands time bering arrived, , animal endangered.

one factor potentially leading extinction of steller s sea cow, off coast of st. lawrence island, siberian yupik people have inhabited st. lawrence island 2,000 years. may have hunted sea cows extinction, natives have dietary culture heavily dependent upon marine mammals. onset of medieval warm period reduced availability of kelp may have been cause extirpation in area.