A recent study has revealed that sea urchins are becoming increasingly more of a problem in coastal waters around the world. The study, conducted by a team of researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara, found that sea urchin populations are rapidly growing and negatively impacting corals and other sea life. The research suggests that the increase of sea urchin populations is due to warming ocean temperatures, overfishing, and harmful algal blooms. These factors are causing a decrease in the number of predators that normally keep the sea urchin population in check. The results of this study are cause for alarm as sea urchins can destroy entire coral reefs by eating the algae that the coral needs to survive. This can have devastating effects on the entire ocean ecosystem. The researchers urge more research and monitoring of sea urchin populations in order to better understand the impact they are having on our oceans and to take action to prevent further destruction.

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source: Phys.org