Sentences with phrase «sea urchins provided»

Studies on sea urchins provided the missing link because they have a protein with elements common to those in both humans and insects and reveal a common ancestry hundreds of millions of years ago.

The development of an elaborate crystalline skeleton within the transparent embryo of the sea urchin provides a model for the shaping of hard mineralized tissues such as shell and bone

Not exact matches

«We posited that giant kelp fed herbivores in the system and provided structure and habitat for predators, and that it was fed upon by sea urchins and affected the understory communities of algae and sessile invertebrates in the kelp forest,» said lead author Robert Miller, a research biologist in UCSB's Marine Science Institute (MSI).

Purple sea urchins also provide food for shorebirds and some mammals living along the coast.

The sea otter (Enhydra lutris), sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus polyacanthus), and kelp (Laminaria spp. and Agarum cribrosum) cascade reported by marine ecologist James Estes in Alaska provides a classic example.

At first, these spicules are nothing more than chalk, but when combined with sea urchin proteins, they form tiny stacks of «bricks,» creating a structure that provides some of the toughest defense against predators and harsh ocean conditions.

«Sea urchin protein provides insights into self - assembly of skeletal structures: Researchers are investigating a protein found inside the spicules of a sea urchin embryo to understand what makes these proteins such efficient «brick organizers».&raqSea urchin protein provides insights into self - assembly of skeletal structures: Researchers are investigating a protein found inside the spicules of a sea urchin embryo to understand what makes these proteins such efficient «brick organizers».&raqsea urchin embryo to understand what makes these proteins such efficient «brick organizers».»

Predation on kelp - eating species such as sea urchins helps to maintain a balance in the kelp forest ecosystem, providing a more stable habitat for other species that rely on the kelp for food and shelter.