A comprehensive framework for using otters as bioindicators in estuarine ecosystems has been published in Estuarine Management and Technologies. The research establishes otters as effective monitoring tools for assessing estuarine health through their habitat dependency, contaminant exposure patterns, and behavioral indicators. Scientists found that otters' position at the top of aquatic food chains makes them ideal for tracking ecosystem changes.

Habitat connectivity emerges as a critical factor in otter-based monitoring systems. The study demonstrates how landscape fragmentation affects otter populations and, by extension, estuarine ecosystem integrity. Researchers documented contaminant bioaccumulation across trophic levels, with otters accumulating toxins that reflect broader environmental contamination patterns. This bioaccumulation provides measurable data points for assessing water quality and ecosystem stress.

Pathogen exposure dynamics represent another key monitoring dimension, with otters serving as sentinels for potential disease spillover between wildlife and human populations. The framework outlines behavioral and trophic proxies that correlate with ecosystem function, enabling standardized monitoring protocols. By establishing otters as operational bioindicators, researchers provide resource managers with practical tools for long-term estuarine health assessment. The approach offers cost-effective monitoring compared to traditional chemical sampling methods.