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?

Dominant species



Invasive species



Keystone species

Answer 1

After all this info you have given me, the correct one is Keystone species. As defined in sources like National Geographic, These are types of plants or animals that play a unique and crucial role in the way an ecosystem functions. Without keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether. I hope this helps you a lot