Our goal is to understand the role of sea otters in the resiliency of kelp forests to the recent sea star wasting event and record numbers of sea urchins along the Central Coast of California. Increased numbers of sea urchins have resulted in the loss of kelp forests in portions of this range. Sea otters feed on sea urchins and may play a crucial role in controlling these sea urchin outbreaks. Funds will support undergraduate students participating in this exciting study over the summer. This experience is critical to the education and development of these students’ careers in Marine Biology.