Sea otters protect kelp forests by eating urchins
Sea otters are crucial for healthy kelp forests, controlling sea urchin populations and maintaining vibrant marine ecosystems that support diverse life and combat climate change.
Sea otters are vital guardians of coastal ecosystems, preventing the destruction of kelp forests by feasting on sea urchins. These playful mammals, found along the Pacific coast, target purple sea urchins, which graze on kelp. Without enough otters, urchin numbers explode, creating barren underwater landscapes. This dynamic, documented since the 1970s, highlights otters as a keystone species essential for biodiversity.
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