Despite their low numbers, sea otters consume voracious kelp-eating sea urchins at a high enough rate that kelp forests continue to persist and provide habitat for numerous species. Without sea ...

Bull kelp provides food and shelter for salmon, Southern Resident orcas, sunflower stars, pinto abalone, rockfish, harbor ...

When kelp forests disappear, the animals that live amongst them disappear ... per acre than woodest forests on land. Fortunately, sea otters have emerged as the unsuspecting heroes of the sea.

Russian hunters pursued Alaskan sea otters for their luxuriant pelts — the densest in the animal kingdom — beginning in the ... which in turn grazed kelp forests to nubbins. When the hungry mammals ...

Kelp forests, in turn ... Banner image of a southern sea otter feeding on sea animal. Photo courtesy of Chris Law. Liz Kimbrough is a staff writer for Mongabay and holds a Ph.D. in ecology ...

But it’s not just staying afloat that’s key to a life at sea – groups of otters hold hands and tangle themselves in kelp forests to make sure they don’t drift apart.

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.

Control a charming sea otter and protect the kelp forest from an endless onslaught of devious sea critters. Skillfully dodge attacks, grab your prey, and eat them all at the surface for a huge ...

Kelp forests are a crucial foundation of coastal habitats, providing a barrier to coastal erosion and offering a high rate of primary productivity. Animals like sea otters, salmon, and abalone depend ...