Sea otters are vital to the health of kelp forests. Here are a few reasons why:
- Otters eat sea urchins, which are natural predators of kelp. Without otters, sea urchin populations would explode and eat away at kelp forests.
- Kelp forests provide important habitat for a variety of marine species, from fish to invertebrates. By maintaining the health of kelp forests, otters support these ecosystems.
- Kelp forests also help to mitigate climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Without otters to protect them, kelp forests could disappear, releasing this stored carbon and contributing to global warming.