Question

question 9 of 25
sea otters are a keystone species. these mammals are the primary predators of sea urchins, which are a type of marine invertebrate. sea urchins eat kelp, a type of seaweed. kelp also feeds many other herbivores in the ecosystem. sea otters were hunted to near extinction in the 18th and 19th centuries.
which sentence describes a likely consequence of the near extinction of sea otters?
a. a new keystone species moved in to keep the sea urchin population under control.
b. other types of seaweed grew, which stabilized the ecosystem.
c. the sea urchin population ate too much kelp and destabilized the ecosystem.
d. kelp increased its growth rate to stabilize the ecosystem.

Explanation:

Step1: Understand sea otter - sea urchin relationship

Sea otters are primary predators of sea urchins.

Step2: Analyze impact of sea otter decline

With sea otters near - extinct, sea urchin population would grow.

Step3: Consider sea urchin - kelp relationship

Sea urchins eat kelp. A larger sea urchin population would over - graze kelp, destabilizing the ecosystem.

Answer:

C. The sea urchin population ate too much kelp and destabilized the ecosystem.