Otters keep the sea urchin population under control, allowing kelp to thrive. A new study published in PLOS Climate demonstrates that otters have helped kelp forests in central California overcome ...

Urchin “barrens” are vast ... Sunflower stars are locally extinct due to a mysterious disease, and sea otters — a keystone ...

Despite their consumption of the largest urchins, the sea otters alone could not control urchin populations. Sunflower stars play an integral role in these kelp forest communities by preying upon ...

To save kelp forests, scientists try breeding sea stars To save kelp forests, scientists try breeding sea stars Massive marine die-off in Russia could threaten endangered sea otters, other ...

Urchin "barrens" are vast, stretching through Oregon, and their natural predators are absent from the north coast: Sunflower stars are locally extinct due to a mysterious disease, and sea otters ...

Warming sea water has triggered an ... But even without these in place the Otter Force One can still be used by human divers to improve their urchin-gathering efficiency.

Urchins however are readily consumed by sea otters (keystone species), and by keeping urchin numbers low, otters assure that the kelp forest community remains intact. Bottom-up forces influence ...

In contrast, at sites where sea otters have long been absent, sea urchin populations have swollen to high densities and maintain extensive urchin barrens characterized by low coverage of kelp.

Warming sea water has triggered an ... But even without these in place the Otter Force One can still be used by human divers to improve their urchin-gathering efficiency.