Question

Sea otters are important predators of sea urchins, an animal that eats giant brown kelp in continental shelf zones where they form huge kelp beds. It was observed that the removal of sea otters from the west coast led to an increase in the sea urchin population. These sea urchins fed on the large kelp fronds, destroying the kelp beds that serve as an important source of food and protection for spawning fish. What role does the sea otter play in this case?

A.) Dominant Species
B.) Invasive species
C.) keystone species

Answer 1

The answer would be C.) Keystone species due to the vital role the sea otter has in order to regulate the ecosystem.

Answer 2

Keystone species.

Step-by-step explanation:

Keystone species may be defined as the species on which the other species depend directly or indirectly. The removal of keystone specie from the ecosystem can destroy the structure and functioning of the ecosystem.

Sea otters are predators of the sea urchin and regulate its population and forms kelp beds. Removal of sea otters from the ecosystem destroys the population of spawning fish and increase population of sea urchin destroys the kelp beds. Hence, sea otters acts as a keystone species because other species depends on the sea otter.

Thus, the correct answer is (C).