Community Coastal Column The State of Kelp Forests on the North coast Ivy Munnerlyn, Coastal Programs Coordinator
stacking up, it’s hard to see a happy future for Northern California’s kelp beds. But recent developments have inspired some measure of hope among kelp lovers. I was lucky to grow up on the In the last two years, areas where Monterey Bay, where the kelp forest kelp forests had almost completely is a legendary and beloved ecosystem. disappeared are seeing a comeback. A From early childhood through college, recent article in Bay Nature by Alastair many school field trips and science Bland describes the surprising regrowth projects focused on the intricate web of kelp beds in Mendocino and Sonoma of life nestled among the golden fronds of counties, despite the overpopulation giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera). When of purple urchins. This phenomenon I moved to the North Coast, I wondered challenges the assumption that kelp about the structure and condition of our beds cannot recover once urchins local kelp beds, which are dominated by have taken over, but further research bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana). Last is needed to determine exactly how month’s Coastal Column discussed this this happened. This is great news for species and gave a general overview of struggling kelp ecosystems south of the evolution and characteristics of kelp Humboldt county, but what about our and seaweed. This month, I’d like to talk local kelp beds in Trinidad and Crescent about some of the traits of a kelp forest City? Unfortunately, there’s much less and what we know about the current data for these areas. But the data we do state of kelp on the Northcoast. have show that while our kelp beds are The key players in a kelp forest less extensive than those to the south, ecosystem are species you may recognize: they have remained remarkably strong sea otters, sunflower sea stars, purple A curious harbor seal eyes the camera in a South Laguna giant kelp forest. Photo credit: Alex Cowdell, California Sea Grant Flikr. despite the warm waters and predator urchins, abalone, and many more. Kelp eradication that have spelled disaster for serves as both a habitat and a food source much of the rest of California. While researchers study by sheltering young fish amongst its waving fronds to our area, but no stable population exists between this phenomenon, everyday people on the Northcoast and giving herbivorous creatures something to graze Washington and Monterey Bay. Now, the job of keeping can show their love for kelp by visiting the kelp beds on. Like land plants, kelp is a primary producer that the ecosystem in balance falls to sunflower sea stars. in places like Trinidad Bay and supporting initiatives turns sunlight into energy. This ability puts kelp at These many-armed echinoderms are the second-largest to restore and protect them. the bottom of the food chain, providing the energy to species of sea star on the planet, and can grow an arm If you or someone you know is passionate about power all the other species in the ecosystem. Grazers span up to one meter. Their huge size means that they kelp ecosystem health or have knowledge to share, like red abalone and especially purple sea urchin like to have no problem gobbling up creatures like snails, please feel free to reach out to me at ivynecmail@ nibble on the kelp’s holdfast -- the root-like structure clams, and urchins. Unfortunately, these predators gmail.com. that keeps the kelp anchored to the rock. Those grazers are also facing dire times. Starting in 2013, a wave of For more information, check out Kelp Forests are a favorite treat for key predators like sea otters and Sea Star Wasting Syndrome devastated populations of Surge Back on Parts of the North Coast, with a Lesson sunflower sea stars, who help maintain the ecosystem sea stars all along the Pacific coast, and their numbers About Environmental Stability by Alastair Bland for balance by keeping their populations in check. haven’t fully recovered. Without the predation pressures Bay Nature; 'Critical Juncture' One of the biggest problems facing kelp forests is of sunflower stars and sea otters, purple urchins can A Race Against Time to Save the North Coast's Bull the disappearance of these key predators. Sea otters carpet the underwater landscape and prevent new Kelp Forests by Kimberly Wear for the North Coast were eradicated from the Northcoast by the early kelp from growing. Compounding these problems Journal; and Sea Star Wasting Syndrome from www. 1900s due to the insatiable demand for their thick is the issue of warming waters, which provide fewer marine.ucsc.edu. pelts. A wandering male will occasionally make its way nutrients to cold-loving kelp. With all these challenges
ECONEWS DECEMBER 2021
www.yournec.org
6
