These sea otters in Alaska are floating amid kelp—an important flora friend to the endangered marine mammals. Sea otters live mostly in the water and use the thick blades of kelp to anchor themselves as they sleep and to keep their buoyant pups from floating away. Just as the kelp helps otters, sea otters help the kelp, too. They ensure the kelp"s survival by eating sea urchins. If sea urchin populations are left unchecked, these spiny vacuum cleaners of the sea destroy kelp forests by munching on holdfasts that tether kelp to the ocean floor. The resulting clear-cut areas, called urchin barrens, are devastating to the overall ecosystem. Kelp forests provide food and safe harbor for hundreds of fish species and other sea creatures. They also remove carbon dioxide from the air, a benefit to us all.
Kelp buddies
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Saksun, Faroe Islands, Denmark
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Venice Skatepark, Los Angeles, California
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It’s Giving Tuesday
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International Surfing Day
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Dolomites
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International Chameleon Day
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Monarch butterflies in Angangueo, Mexico
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Bear cubs roughhouse on Siblings Day
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Porto Timoni beach, Greece
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Its Halfway Day!
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St. Joseph North Pier Inner and Outer Lights, Michigan
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Australian baobab tree, Kimberley region, Western Australia
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Arambol Beach, Goa, India
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Venice by night
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Celebrate International Women’s Day
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Tortula moss, Netherlands
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Sibiu Christmas market, Romania
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A triumph of light
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Clouds over the River of Grass
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Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
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Over the boardwalk
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Here there be dragons
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A timeless view of the night sky
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Embracing the cold
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World Octopus Day
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Celebrating Flag Day
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Kinder Scout, Peak District National Park, England
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Astronomy Day and National Public Lands Day
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Pining for spring
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Space-age style by the sea
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

