How Do Sea Otters Contribute to Their Ecosystem?

Sea otters are not just adorable marine mammals; they play a crucial role in their ecosystem, particularly in the health of kelp forests. These otters have a voracious appetite and can consume up to 25% of their body weight in food daily, primarily hunting sea urchins, crabs, and other invertebrates. By keeping sea urchin populations in check, sea otters help prevent these herbivorous creatures from overgrazing kelp forests. Without sufficient otter populations, unchecked sea urchin numbers can lead to "urchin barrens," where kelp forests are devastated, resulting in loss of habitat for numerous marine species. Thus, sea otters are a keystone species, vital for the balance of their underwater ecosystem, illustrating how interconnected nature truly is.