Where are kelp forest located?

Where are kelp forest located?

Rich in biodiversity, kelp forests grow along rocky shorelines, mostly on the Pacific coast, from Alaska to Baja, California. Alaska is home to three types of kelp: Macrocystis (two kinds, one of which is giant kelp), Nereocystis luetkeana (bull kelp) and Alaria fistulosa.

Where is the largest kelp forest?

The region with the greatest diversity of kelps (>20 species) is the northeastern Pacific, from north of San Francisco, California, to the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Although kelp forests are unknown in tropical surface waters, a few species of Laminaria have been known to occur exclusively in tropical deep waters.

What do kelp forests do?

Kelp forests provide food and shelter for thousands of species. ... These underwater towers of kelp provide food and shelter for thousands of fish, invertebrates, and marine mammal species. Kelp forests harbor a greater variety and higher diversity of plants and animals than almost any other ocean community.

Do sharks live in kelp forests?

In other well-studied white shark populations in South African waters, sharks aren't found near kelp, because there isn't much kelp. But here, mixing oceans stir up nutrients so kelp — and the animals it feeds — thrive.

Who eats kelp?

Sea urchins will often completely remove kelp plants by eating through their holdfasts. Other invertebrates found in kelp forests are sea stars, anemones, crabs, and jellyfish. A wide range of fish can be found in kelp forests, many of which are important to commercial fishermen.

Are kelp forests dangerous?

Kelp can be one of the most beautiful diving environments, but it can also be frustrating and dangerous if a diver gets twisted in it, sometimes obscuring vision and making it difficult to stay with a buddy. Kelp can be broken or cut, but pulling against it makes it nearly impossible to break free.

How do humans affect the kelp forest?

Strong storms and changing water temperatures can cause changes in kelp forest communities. Human activities also impact the health of kelp forests through coastal development, sedimentation, pollution, and fishing. Removing predators while fishing can alter the food chain.

How does pollution affect the kelp forest?

Non-point and point source pollution including sewage, industrial disposal, and coastal runoff might contribute to kelp forest degradation. For instance, high sedimentation from coastal run-off may bury new plant shoots.

Why is kelp important to humans?

Kelp is used to make many products: toothpastes, shampoos, salad dressings, puddings, cakes, dairy products, frozen foods, and even pharmaceuticals. ... Kelp forests are extremely biologically productive habitats for a huge range of sea creatures including fish, urchins, sea otters, sea lions, and even some whales.

Why should we protect kelp forests?

Shelter sea life Kelp forests provide food, nursery areas, and shelter—including protection from predators and storms—for hundreds of commercially and recreationally important fish species as well as West Coast marine wildlife.

Why is kelp important?

Kelp serves as an ecosystem foundation: feeding and sheltering diverse ocean species. They're a vital habitat for schools of fish. Kelp forests also reduce coastal erosion and serve as a buffer against strong storm-born waves.

How long does kelp live for?

seven years

Why does kelp grow so fast?

Like plants, however, the giant kelp harvests the sun's energy through photosynthesis and does not feed on other organisms. This species is one of the fastest growing species in the world, and under perfect conditions, it has been known to grow up to two feet (60 cm) in a single day.

Does kelp produce oxygen?

The ocean produces oxygen through the plants (phytoplankton, kelp, and algal plankton) that live in it. These plants produce oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis, a process which converts carbon dioxide and sunlight into sugars the organism can use for energy.

Does Algae produce more oxygen than trees?

Algae, when used in conjunction with AI-powered bioreactors, is up to 400 times more efficient than a tree at removing CO2 from the atmosphere. ... Trees “consume” it as part of their photosynthesis process by “absorbing” carbon into their trunks and roots and releasing oxygen back into the air.

What is the largest carbon reservoir on Earth?

deep-ocean

Does seaweed produce more oxygen than trees?

Oceans' phytoplanktons produce more oxygen than trees and plants.

Can algae stop global warming?

Algae can be used to fight climate change because it removes carbon dioxide from our atmosphere, stores it as biomass, and replaces it with oxygen.

Do trees produce more oxygen than grass?

Anthony Brach Ph. So forests produce lots of wood, they must also produce lots of oxygen – which is true. ... Either way, the NETT production of oxygen in a field of grass is very small, because the carbon products are not as long lasting as wood is.

Which plant absorbs the most CO2?

So the plants that are considered the most adept at locking away carbon dioxide from the atmosphere are the longest-living ones, with the most mass – hardwood trees. It's all temporary though. Eventually every plant returns all the carbon dioxide it uses back to the atmosphere.

Does bamboo absorb more CO2 than trees?

Bamboo Absorbs Carbon Dioxide - Bamboo absorbs carbon dioxide and releases over 30% more oxygen into the atmosphere compared to an equivalent mass of trees. This makes bamboo excellent for absorbing greenhouse gases and producing clean, fresh oxygen. We can all use a lot more of that.

What Trees soak up the most carbon?

We Already Have the World's Most Efficient Carbon Capture Technology. Empress trees mature several times faster than your average oak or pine and absorb about 103 tons of carbon a year per acre.

What absorbs the most carbon dioxide?

The Short Answer: The ocean covers about 70 percent of Earth's surface. The ocean plays a large part in Earth's environment. One of its largest roles is to soak up energy (heat) and distribute it more evenly throughout the Earth. The ocean also helps to absorb Earth's CO2.

Can CO2 be converted to something else?

NASA has developed a new technology that can convert the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (C02) into fuel by using solar-powered, thin-film devices. Metal oxide thin films are fabricated to produce a photoelectrochemical cell that is powered by solar energy.

How many trees do you need to plant to offset your carbon footprint?

1,025 trees

Can trees offset carbon footprint?

Trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen in its stead also helps limit global warming, providing for a cleaner, healthier climate. By planting trees, you can help clean the air and fight climate change!10-Aug-2019