The high number of otters counted this year were

Directions: Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the twin passage.

Passage – I
It seemed that everywhere scientists looked this year -- especially in Monterey Bay-- they saw sea otters. “Silver headed male is coming in” says a counter.
Up and down the California coast, federal, state and private researchers turned their eyes to the water for the annual spring sea otter count. That's three resting plus one small say a counter. The results returned numbers so high that scientists believe they're misleading. The spring count this year is the highest we've ever had since 1983, said Greg Sanders of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. So that's encouraging. Two thousand five hundred and five (2,505) otters were counted in this year's census, up 17% from last year. But the count only reflects otters that were observed. Scientists say the observing conditions this year were very good and more otters have congregated in Monterey Bay, where they are easily seen. “I have no confidence that the population really is increasing now, said Dr. Jim Estes, an ecology researcher with the U.S. Geological Survey and one of the leaders of the annual count. I think it's roughly stable. On the chart, the raw numbers show this year's spike. But when the counts are displayed as a three year running average, the increase levels out.
Scientists believe a harsh early winter combined with increased food attracted many more otters close in to Monterey Bay, where they could be seen and counted. This also may explain what appeared to be a mystery in April. This spring, an exceptionally large number of dead and dying sea otters were found around Monterey Bay. There were reports that a disease carried by cat feces contributed to the deaths. But the explanation offered now is quite a bit simpler.
It's simply that there are a lot of live ones out there and thus are a lot of dead ones accumulating as a result of all these live ones, said Estes. The increase in dead otters is proportional to the increase in live ones -- meaning that the so-called unusual deaths reported in April were not unusual at all. Scientists say if the otter count shows an increase over the next several years, they'll know the downward population trend that began in the mid-1990s has actually reversed. Despite the increase this year, the 2,505 otters counted are still a fraction of the 18,000 to 20,000 believed to have lived along what is now the California coast (among about 250,000 worldwide) before they were hunted to near-extinction.

Passage – II
The story on the re-discovery of California's sea otter is well-documented. In 1938 a group of otters were spotted near Bixby Bridge along the Big Sur coast. This sighting confirmed that California's otter was, indeed, still in existence.
That was 57 years ago. For almost half of that time Friends of the Sea Otter (FSO) has worked to protect the sea otter and its habitat from a wide range of threats. And it is in large part due to FSO's efforts that the California (southern) sea otter population has grown. In 1968 when Margaret Owings, a well respected conservationist, and Dr. Jim Mattison, an avid outdoorsman, founded FSO, the southern sea otter population numbered about 650. Since that time, the population has grown in number and range and includes about 2,300 otters along the central California coastline. When FSO first began, it was operated solely on a volunteer basis; many times meetings were held at Owings' home and it was through her sheer force of will that the organization continued. She helped establish environmental policy to benefit the otter; she spoke to legislators both in Sacramento and Washington D.C.; and she used her insight and knowledge to rally scientists, conservationists, educators, and friends to embrace FSO's mission. Mattison marched along with her at every step, albeit with a different focus. He utilized his considerable medical knowledge to help in the biological research of otters; and he turned his scuba diving hobby into a treasure trove of pictures, information, and data - all about otters - for FSO. The success of FSO is well-known in the environmental community. As the only advocacy organization for sea otters in the world, in the fight to protect our marine communities. FSO is now assessing those threats facing Alaska otters - a species that was tragically affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound - for successful resolution. Additionally, FSO is investigating the plight of Russian otters which are outside the protection of both the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The most serious threat they face comes from poachers hunting for skins. What began as two people's commitment to save a single species has become an organization with a staff fully committed to ensuring not only the protection of the sea otter, but also the preservation of critical marine environments necessary to the otter's survival.

Question

Multiple choice

The high number of otters counted this year were

Directions: Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the twin passage.

Passage – I
It seemed that everywhere scientists looked this year -- especially in Monterey Bay-- they saw sea otters. “Silver headed male is coming in” says a counter.
Up and down the California coast, federal, state and private researchers turned their eyes to the water for the annual spring sea otter count. That's three resting plus one small say a counter. The results returned numbers so high that scientists believe they're misleading. The spring count this year is the highest we've ever had since 1983, said Greg Sanders of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. So that's encouraging. Two thousand five hundred and five (2,505) otters were counted in this year's census, up 17% from last year. But the count only reflects otters that were observed. Scientists say the observing conditions this year were very good and more otters have congregated in Monterey Bay, where they are easily seen. “I have no confidence that the population really is increasing now, said Dr. Jim Estes, an ecology researcher with the U.S. Geological Survey and one of the leaders of the annual count. I think it's roughly stable. On the chart, the raw numbers show this year's spike. But when the counts are displayed as a three year running average, the increase levels out.
Scientists believe a harsh early winter combined with increased food attracted many more otters close in to Monterey Bay, where they could be seen and counted. This also may explain what appeared to be a mystery in April. This spring, an exceptionally large number of dead and dying sea otters were found around Monterey Bay. There were reports that a disease carried by cat feces contributed to the deaths. But the explanation offered now is quite a bit simpler.
It's simply that there are a lot of live ones out there and thus are a lot of dead ones accumulating as a result of all these live ones, said Estes. The increase in dead otters is proportional to the increase in live ones -- meaning that the so-called unusual deaths reported in April were not unusual at all. Scientists say if the otter count shows an increase over the next several years, they'll know the downward population trend that began in the mid-1990s has actually reversed. Despite the increase this year, the 2,505 otters counted are still a fraction of the 18,000 to 20,000 believed to have lived along what is now the California coast (among about 250,000 worldwide) before they were hunted to near-extinction.

Passage – II
The story on the re-discovery of California's sea otter is well-documented. In 1938 a group of otters were spotted near Bixby Bridge along the Big Sur coast. This sighting confirmed that California's otter was, indeed, still in existence.
That was 57 years ago. For almost half of that time Friends of the Sea Otter (FSO) has worked to protect the sea otter and its habitat from a wide range of threats. And it is in large part due to FSO's efforts that the California (southern) sea otter population has grown. In 1968 when Margaret Owings, a well respected conservationist, and Dr. Jim Mattison, an avid outdoorsman, founded FSO, the southern sea otter population numbered about 650. Since that time, the population has grown in number and range and includes about 2,300 otters along the central California coastline. When FSO first began, it was operated solely on a volunteer basis; many times meetings were held at Owings' home and it was through her sheer force of will that the organization continued. She helped establish environmental policy to benefit the otter; she spoke to legislators both in Sacramento and Washington D.C.; and she used her insight and knowledge to rally scientists, conservationists, educators, and friends to embrace FSO's mission. Mattison marched along with her at every step, albeit with a different focus. He utilized his considerable medical knowledge to help in the biological research of otters; and he turned his scuba diving hobby into a treasure trove of pictures, information, and data - all about otters - for FSO. The success of FSO is well-known in the environmental community. As the only advocacy organization for sea otters in the world, in the fight to protect our marine communities. FSO is now assessing those threats facing Alaska otters - a species that was tragically affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound - for successful resolution. Additionally, FSO is investigating the plight of Russian otters which are outside the protection of both the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The most serious threat they face comes from poachers hunting for skins. What began as two people's commitment to save a single species has become an organization with a staff fully committed to ensuring not only the protection of the sea otter, but also the preservation of critical marine environments necessary to the otter's survival.

confusing
congregating
discouraging
appealing to the scientists

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself

Accepted Answer

encouraging

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