Evolutionary timeline of kelp forest ecosystem (IMAGE)

University of California - Berkeley

Evolutionary timeline of kelp forest ecosystem

Caption

This timeline depicts the evolution of kelp forests and associated organisms along the Pacific Coast over the past 32 million years, along with water temperature variations. Black bars indicate members of the modern, complex kelp ecosystems — sea otters, abalone, sea urchins and, until recently, sea cows. The green bars indicate now-extincct members of early kelp beds, including desmostylians and penguin-like plotopterids.

Credit

Steffen Kiel and Cindy Looy

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