Story: Seaweed

A kina barren

A kina barren

Native sea urchins (kina) are important grazers in forests of kelp. At times, hordes of kina may strip a reef of kelp, creating an open area known as a barren. Young kelp that try to colonise the open area are devoured by resident kina, and a barren may remain free of large seaweeds for years. This photograph shows a multitude of kina chomping their way through a bed of bladder kelp.

Using this item

Department of Conservation
Reference: 10048890
Photograph by Rob Davidson

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How to cite this page:

Maggy Wassilieff, 'Seaweed - Kelp', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/4596/a-kina-barren (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 12 Jun 2006