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Location: The kelp forests can be mostly found in along the Eastern Pacific Coast, from Alaska and Canada to the waters of Baja, California.
(Monterey Bay Kelp Forest: 36.6185° N, 121.9020° W)
Climate:  Kelp grows most successful in area with great upwelling, where the water is high in nutrients and is cold. Kelps grows best in water that is 42-72 degrees Fahrenheit. The water must be clear so that the sunlight can go through and reach the floor. If the water is even 20 degrees Celsius, then the kelp forests will now thrive as much.
Plant Life:  Kelp forests consists of rapidly growing brown algae. The kelp forest supports various fish, invertebrates, and marine animals.

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Otter Hungry GIF - Otter Hungry Eating - Discover & Share GIFs

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The perfect Otter Hungry Eating Animated GIF for your conversation. Discover and Share the best GIFs on Tenor.

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The Monterey Bay kelp forests are not endangered yet but they will be since their sea otters are endangered. The sea otters that are endangered are a crucial part of the eco system and food web. Without the sea otters, the kelp forest would ultimately diminish to an urchin barren or to nothing at all.

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Without sea otters.
(Notice lack of biodiversity)

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With sea otters.

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The sea otters are a secondary consumer, predator which helps the kelp forest stay balanced by eating the sea urchins. The sea otters keep the sea urchin population in check. By doing so the sea otters are unconsciously allowing the growth of kelp which ultimately provides shelter to other sea life. The kelp forests fosters protection form predators and storms, are a food source, and server as nurseries. Without the sea otters to keep the viciously eating kelp sea urchins in check, the kelp forest ecosystem would shut down. There would be such a large amount of sea urchins that there would be no more food for the kelp crab. When the sea urchins have out competed with the crabs, there would not be anymore kelp for even the sea urchins to feast on. When there is no more kelp protected by sea otters, the sea urchins too would starve and go extinct. Moreover, the species that too feed on the sea urchins and kelp crab would too go extinct eventually. The ecosystem would collapse.

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Browning, Jennifer, and Gillian Lyons. “5 Reasons to Protect Kelp, the West Coast's Powerhouse Marine Algae.” The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Pew Charitable Trusts, 27 May 2020, www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2020/05/27/5-reasons-to-protect-kelp-the-west-coasts-powerhouse-marine-algae#:~:text=Kelp%20forests%20provide%20food%2C%20nursery,as%20West%20Coast%20marine%20wildlife.

Fisheries, NOAA. “Kelp Forest Habitat on the West Coast.” NOAA, 2 Nov. 2021, www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/habitat-conservation/kelp-forest-habitat-west-coast#:~:text=Though%20rapid%20growth%20rates%20help,kelp%20to%20remove%20entire%20forests.

“Kelp Forest.” Montereybayaquarium.org, www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/habitats/kelp-forest.

“Sea Otter.” Montereybayaquarium.org, www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/sea-otter#:~:text=In%20Monterey%20Bay%2C%20the%20sea,other%20species%20and%20ecosystems%20nearby.

“Sea Otters Keep Remaining California Kelp Forests Alive.” NSF, beta.nsf.gov/news/sea-otters-keep-remaining-california-kelp-forests#:~:text=Sea%20otters%20have%20long%20been,which%20are%20voracious%20kelp%20grazers.

“Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra Lutris Nereis): U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.” FWS.gov, www.fws.gov/species/southern-sea-otter-enhydra-lutris-nereis.

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The sea otters are the smallest marine mammals and they stand at about 4ft tall. The male sea otters average up to 70lbs while the female otters average up to 50lbs.  The average lifespan of the southern sea otters is about 15-20 years. At the age of 4-5 years old, female otters can now give birth. Majority of mating occurs between October and January and then in March to April. Generally the female otter only gives birth to 1 pup. The female otter is pregnant for about 6 months then takes care of her pup for another 6 months.

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The sea otter is generally a secondary consumer. Kelp is eaten by sea urchins and kelp crab. The sea urchins are then eaten by horn sharks, sheepshead fish, sunflower sea stars, and sea otters. The sea otter eat sea urchins, kelp crab, clams, mussels, sea snails, sunflower sea stars, and abalone. The horn shark is eaten by the northern elephant seal.