The near extinction of the sea otter on the west coast of North America, for it’s incredibly soft pelt, was another such case. Fortunately a few survived and are now rebuilding. When they were obliterated, it changed the entire foreshore environment. Sea others love urchins. Urchins eat kelp. Massive kelp forests grew on the coast, prime habitat for many species. Otters vanished, urchins thrived, kelp forests almost disappeared, with enormous impacts to various marine life populations.
The near extinction of the sea otter on the west coast of North America, for it’s incredibly soft pelt, was another such case. Fortunately a few survived and are now rebuilding. When they were obliterated, it changed the entire foreshore environment. Sea others love urchins. Urchins eat kelp. Massive kelp forests grew on the coast, prime habitat for many species. Otters vanished, urchins thrived, kelp forests almost disappeared, with enormous impacts to various marine life populations.