Kelp Beds: Importance Kelp Beds: Importance and Dynamicsand Dynamics

By: Tanay TailorBy: Tanay Tailor

Structure/Dynamics Structure/Dynamics

• Kelp Beds: areas of Kelp Beds: areas of high densities of high densities of brown macroalgae brown macroalgae (Kelp). (Kelp).

• Need a hard substrate Need a hard substrate to attach to, high # of to attach to, high # of nutrients, and light.nutrients, and light.

• Kelp Beds are Kelp Beds are primarily in temperate primarily in temperate and arctic waters.and arctic waters.

Types of Kelp BedsTypes of Kelp Beds

Canopy Kelps, largest species

Stipitate Kelps; grow very densely.

Prostrate Kelps, lie at the bottom of the ocean.

DynamicsDynamics

• The layout of the Kelp The layout of the Kelp Beds is very similar to Beds is very similar to an underground an underground forest. The Canopy forest. The Canopy Kelps blocks sunlight Kelps blocks sunlight from coming through. from coming through. The dense Stipitate The dense Stipitate Kelps darkens the Kelps darkens the middle.middle.

• Thus, the Prostrate Thus, the Prostrate Kelps get almost no Kelps get almost no light. Living Organisms light. Living Organisms must adapt to fulfill must adapt to fulfill their needs of food in their needs of food in this environment. this environment.

• For example, organisms For example, organisms at the bottom cannot at the bottom cannot be photoautotrophs be photoautotrophs because of the lack of because of the lack of light. light.

Importance/DynamicsImportance/Dynamics

• Kelp beds exhibit simple Kelp beds exhibit simple Trophic Ecology. Trophic Ecology.

• 1) Kelp Beds form in 1) Kelp Beds form in waters with a high amount waters with a high amount of nutrients.of nutrients.

• 2) This supports the 2) This supports the Herbivores.Herbivores.

• 3) Now, Consumers can be 3) Now, Consumers can be supported by the supported by the herbivores.herbivores.

• The Kelp Beds are the The Kelp Beds are the starting point of life in starting point of life in parts of the ocean. parts of the ocean.

• Without it, the ecosystem Without it, the ecosystem could not support the large could not support the large diversity of animals that diversity of animals that live in it because the food live in it because the food chain is broken.chain is broken.

So eat your spinach! l0lz .

Patch Dynamics…Patch Dynamics…

• Some areas of Kelp forests are influenced by the Some areas of Kelp forests are influenced by the environment.environment.

• Water Pollution (eutrophication), underwater Water Pollution (eutrophication), underwater storms, El Nino-oscillation patterns (nutrient storms, El Nino-oscillation patterns (nutrient depletion), and overfishing harms the kelp beds.depletion), and overfishing harms the kelp beds.

• Kelp beds also offer many environmental services Kelp beds also offer many environmental services such as species diversity and can allow people to such as species diversity and can allow people to fish.fish.

Review! Review!

• What is a stipitate kelp?What is a stipitate kelp?

• What layout are Kelp Beds similar to?What layout are Kelp Beds similar to?

• Why is kelp important for the organisms that live Why is kelp important for the organisms that live near it?near it?

• What is a photoautotroph?What is a photoautotroph?

• What type of water are kelp beds found in?What type of water are kelp beds found in?

• List the three things a Kelp Bed needs to form?List the three things a Kelp Bed needs to form?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Chttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdRVBEaMo34dRVBEaMo34

AnswersAnswers

• Kelps that grow very densely.Kelps that grow very densely.

• Tropical forest.Tropical forest.

• It supports the food chain because it is the It supports the food chain because it is the main food for the herbivores, which sustains main food for the herbivores, which sustains other organisms too.other organisms too.

• Organism that makes food from light by Organism that makes food from light by itself.itself.

• Temperate and Arctic Temperate and Arctic

• Hard substrate, lots of nutrients, and light.Hard substrate, lots of nutrients, and light.