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.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Department of Conservation
Reference:
10048890
Photograph by Rob Davidson
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