How otters, urchins and kelp help to gauge the fragility of ecosystems

Mar 26, 2021

By eating large quantities of purple sea urchins, otters off the coast of California are helping preserve kelp forests. Image: Unsplash/Steve Halama

Victoria Masterson

Senior Writer, Forum Agenda

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image of a sea otter eating a sea urchin

A purple urchin eater. Image: Morgan Rector / UC Santa Cruz

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image of sea urchin grazing in Monterey Bay

An 'urchin barren' in Monterey Bay. Image: Michael Langhans / UC Santa Cruz

Kelp forests provide food and shelter for a diverse community of plants and animals. Image: Monterey Bay Aquarium

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