Home of the Purple Sea Urchin
Purple sea urchins live only in salt water, so they are found only in the marine biome. They are most commonly found in shallow waters with strong waves or currents. They mainly live along the coast line of Alaska down the Pacific Coast to Mexico and tend to live in kelp forests as kelp is a main source of food. They are also commonly found under or around rocks which they use as protection and to eat algae and barnacles off of. Many other organism share this underwater home with the purple sea urchin.
Biome: Marine
Ecosystem: Harsh, shallow ocean waters down the Pacific Coast
Habitat: Kelp Forests
Trophic level: Purple Sea Urchins are primary and secondary consumers
Interspecific interactions: There is competition between echinoderms over algae and space. Aside from competition, purple sea urchin are prey for spiny lobsters, sheep-head fish, sea otters, sun stars, snails, birds, etc, and predators of algae and barnacles on hard surfaces, kelp, seaweed, plankton, dead fish, small sea animals, mussels and sponges.
Intraspecific interactions: Natural populations of purple sea urchins are often dense. There is intaspecific competition for limited resources such as food and space.
Interspecific interactions: There is competition between echinoderms over algae and space. Aside from competition, purple sea urchin are prey for spiny lobsters, sheep-head fish, sea otters, sun stars, snails, birds, etc, and predators of algae and barnacles on hard surfaces, kelp, seaweed, plankton, dead fish, small sea animals, mussels and sponges.
Intraspecific interactions: Natural populations of purple sea urchins are often dense. There is intaspecific competition for limited resources such as food and space.