Sea otters in marine habitats along the west coast of North America were hunted to near extinction.This caused sea urchins to grow exponentially.They overgrazed and nearly destroyed kelp beds, which provided habitat and food for many fish and other species.After kelp was destroyed, many fish species also declined.This suggests that sea otters act as a _______ species and their loss set off a(n) _______.

Question

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Sea otters act as a keystone species, meaning their presence has a significant impact on the entire ecosystem. Their loss set off a trophic cascade, causing a chain reaction of ecological effects throughout the food web.

Sea Otters in Marine Habitats Along the West Coast of North