” predators that keep the ecosystem balanced. Kelp forests decline and suffer when the otter population declines, as they are the main predator of sea urchins. When not enough otters are around to eat the sea urchins, the urchin colonies grow unchecked and “urchin barrens” increase....
single-celled organisms in plankton to kelp fronds 200 feet tall in the ocean. Like plants, algae species photosynthesize to create the chemical energy they need to survive. However, algae species differ from plants in that they lack proper leaves, roots and reproductive organs. Different algae ...
What are the trophic levels for the following organisms: dinoflagellates, diatoms, coralline algae, bull kelp, ''euphasiid'' (krill), water flea, sea urchin, blenny, pilchard, crab, yellow-eyed mullet What does ecosystem ecology include that community ecology does not? What is t...
The data showed that although sea urchins negatively affected giant kelp by grazing on it, no direct link between kelp and other herbivores existed. In reality, herbivores eat varied diets, which means they aren't necessarily affected when giant kelp abundance declines. In fact, the majority of ...
Those that eat organic material in sediments are called deposit feeders (e.g., holothurians, echinoids, gastropods), those that feed on the plankton above are the suspension feeders (e.g., bivalves, ophiuroids, crinoids), and those that consume other fauna in the benthic assemblage are ...
Humans also eat many types of algae. The marine algae nori and kelp have been harvested in China for over two thousand years. Spirulina, a blue-green algae that is rich in protein and vitamin B, is harvested from Lake Chad in Africa. The photosynthesis done by algae is very important ...