Fall 2023

But Mother Nature had other plans. Around 2014, California coastal water temperatures began trending upward—alarmingly. Known as “The Blob,” an area of warm water began growing in the Pacific Ocean. This water was low in nutrients, stressing the kelp, andThe Blob stayed around for several years. Its existence coincided with a disease that devastated the sea star population, including the sunflower sea star, a critter whose favorite food is the purple sea urchin. Consequently, with its main preda- tor out of the picture, the urchin population skyrocketed. And what do urchins eat? Kelp.You might see where this is going. A kelp forest is a diverse, dynamic, complicat- 148 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • F A L L 2 0 2 3 The endangered Monterey Bay kelp forest is a rich and fertile biological environment, home to a diverse array of sea life. Sea otters depend on kelp for a variety of reasons, including providing rafts on which they rest, as seen here. Kelp also supports many of the organisms that otters depend on for food—including sea urchins. Photos: Dan Schwartz