In this activity, students learn about the role of Sea Otters in their coastal habitat, through an interactive story.
Kelp forests are undersea forests made of seaweed instead of trees. Many types of fish live in kelp forests, finding shelter and reliant on the kelp to lay their eggs on. Crabs, sea urchins, snails, clams, shrimp, sea stars, and other invertebrates are also found in kelp forest environments.
Sea otters play a very important role in keeping kelp forest ecosystems healthy.
The sea otter is an example of an important keystone species (a species that, if removed, has a great effect on other species and can cause collapse of the food web).
Sea otters find all their food and shelter in kelp forests. These large members of the weasel family love to eat sea urchins and crabs, often using a rock as a tool to crack the animals' hard shell. When not eating, they wrap the ends of the anchored kelp fronds around themselves and sleep floating on the surface, like fastening a seat belt. Baby otters "wear a seat belt" to prevent them from floating away while their mother's dive for food in the kelp forest.