Consider the Following Marine Community: Sea Otters Prey on Sea

question 34

Multiple Choice

Consider the following marine community: Sea otters prey on sea urchins and therefore help maintain a healthy sea urchin population. Sea urchins prey on kelp. By helping to maintain viable sea urchin populations, the sea otters are also allowing enough kelp to grow and act as a habitat for other organisms.
-Suppose that a bacterial infection swept across a sea otter population and killed most sea otters before they could reproduce. How would the marine community be affected?

• A) For a period of time, there would be overpopulations of sea urchins and therefore a decline in kelp populations.
• B) For a period of time, there would be an overpopulation of kelp and therefore a decline in sea urchins.
• C) Sea otters would continue to decline until they reached extinction.
• D) Kelp would become a primary predator of sea urchins.

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