tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3433304117507034540.post3336759132647281524..comments2024-03-27T10:06:07.100-07:00Comments on The Echinoblog: Sea Urchin Video FRIDAY!ChrisMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11784970666468925633noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3433304117507034540.post-34350990367275307162009-10-09T18:56:52.645-07:002009-10-09T18:56:52.645-07:00Well..yes and no. A healthy sea urchin population ...Well..yes and no. A healthy sea urchin population can naturally include quite an abundant number of individuals. But these are often kept in balance by various predators or other variable environmental factors.<br /><br />But the classic example is the effect of otter removal from a kelp ecosystem resulting in runway sea urchin growth and consequent "urchin barrens" resulting from the onslaught of continuous grazing and so on...ChrisMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11784970666468925633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3433304117507034540.post-6934411244288581472009-10-09T18:25:36.396-07:002009-10-09T18:25:36.396-07:00Some of the videos show a LOT of sea urchins. Is ...Some of the videos show a LOT of sea urchins. Is that a normal/healthy number or are there too many, such as when a predator population is reduced? <br /><br />Thanks. <br /><br />(I am a volunteer at the North Carolina Aquarium and sometimes explain/show sea urchins to our visitors.)tshilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16390683923288420212noreply@blogger.com