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SEA URCHIN
Overview of echinoderms (urchins and sea stars) and cnidarians (anemones)
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Importance of these marine invertebrates in ocean ecosystems
Sea Urchins
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Description: Spiny, globe-shaped echinoderms
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Habitat: Found in oceans worldwide, often on rocky seabeds
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Diet: Algae grazers, helping control kelp forest growth
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Predators: Sea otters, fish, and some humans (in cuisine)
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Reproduction: External fertilization and planktonic larvae
Sea Anemones
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Description: Soft-bodied cnidarians with tentacles and a central mouth
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Habitat: Attached to rocks, corals, or shells in shallow and deep waters
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Diet: Carnivorous, using tentacles to capture prey
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Symbiosis: Clownfish and other organisms live among their tentacles
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Reproduction: Both sexual and asexual methods
Sea Stars (Starfish)
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Description: Radial symmetry with multiple arms and tube feet
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Habitat: Found in various ocean environments, from tidal pools to deep sea
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Diet: Predators and scavengers, feeding on mollusks and decomposing matter
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Regeneration: Some species can regenerate lost arms or even entire bodies
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Reproduction: Sexual (broadcast spawning) and asexual (fragmentation)
Ecological Roles and Conservation
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Impact on ecosystems: Urchins balance kelp forests, sea stars control bivalve populations, and anemones provide shelter
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Threats: Overfishing, habitat destruction, climate change, and ocean acidification
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Conservation efforts: Marine protected areas, population monitoring, and restoration projects
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