barrens

/ ˈbærənz /

plural noun

1. (sometimes singular) (in North America) a stretch of usually level land that is sparsely vegetated or barren

Example Sentences

But when wasting disease in effect wiped out their main predator, the sea urchins exploded in number, decimating kelp forests and transforming once-lush underwater habitats into so-called urchin barrens.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

However, when wasting disease effectively wiped out their main predator, the sea urchins exploded in number, decimating kelp forests and transforming once-lush underwater habitats into so-called “urchin barrens.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"A classic example of multiple stressors causing a regime shift is the transition from kelp forests to urchin barrens in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of North America," Meunier said.

Read more on Science Daily

Ninety-five percent of Northern California’s kelp forest has been displaced by sea urchin “barrens” since the West Coast’s marine heat wave in 2014, ’15 and ’16, when water temperature averaged 7 degrees above normal.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Bees are routinely trucked into the region to pollinate the blueberry barrens each spring.

Read more on Seattle Times

Related Words

• back country 
• desert 
• forest 
• jungle 
• outback 
• wasteland