Despite their low numbers, sea otters consume voracious kelp-eating sea ... could not control urchin populations. Sunflower stars play an integral role in these kelp forest communities by preying ...

Why do sea otters hold hands? As you’ll see in this video, it is actually a rather clever sea otter survival strategy!

When sea urchins overpopulate the sea floor, they mow down any algae and kelp in their path, even destroying entire kelp forests ... urchin populations in check. Which is good, because sea otters ...

who like to eat kelp,” she said, explaining that without predators like sea stars and sea otters, the urchins took over and “kind of clear cut the beautiful, healthy kelp forest” that helped ...

Want to help California’s kelp forests? Eat ... sea stars To save kelp forests, scientists try breeding sea stars Massive marine die-off in Russia could threaten endangered sea otters, other ...

Using only fins, divers wild-harvest abalone off eastern Australia’s coast. The marine snail, known for its beautiful ...

A southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) foraging on a purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) in Monterey Bay, California, USA. Image by Morgan Rector. Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert!

HABITAT: Sea otters inhabit coastal waters, usually less than half a mile from shore. Their typical haunts include precipitous rocky shores, barrier reefs, tidewater stones, and dense kelp forests ...

Animals like sea otters, salmon, and abalone depend on them for shelter. But climate change pressure is hastening these forests’ transformation into urchin barrens — after kelp dies off from heat ...