During the 19th century, sea otters were hunted almost to the point of extinction. When the number of sea otters became very low, it was noticed that the ecosystem of kelp bed "forests" was also disappearing. It was discovered that the sea otters were predators of sea urchins, which were, in turn, predators of the kelp. When sea otters declined, the sea urchin populations grew, destroying the kelp ecosystem and the many species that depended on it. It was then understood that sea otters were ________ in this ecosystem.

Question

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Sea otters are a keystone species in this ecosystem because their presence helps to maintain the balance of the food chain and allows for the survival of many other species in the kelp forest. Without sea otters, the ecosystem collapses as the sea urchin population grows unchecked and destroys the kelp forest.

During the 19th Century, Sea Otters Were Hunted Almost to the Point