Posted by Steve on January 14, 2003 at 13:21:11:
In Reply to: Re: Boring Subject "Sea Urchin" posted by Max Bottomtime on January 13, 2003 at 14:45:37:
"Without otters the urchins can graze the forest down to an urchin barren, the kelp having been destroyed by the uncontrolled urchin population."
Here is a quote from the study you cited. Now, the fact that we don't have otters in Southern California and the the kelp has not been grazed down to an "Urchin Barren" would suggest this person theory is flawed if not outright incorrect and Wayne's daughter's study and Seahunt theories are more in tune with kelp forest ecology. Wouldn't you agree?