If you have never heard of or seen a kelp forest before, imagine sitting at an ocean floor as numerous columns of macroalgae tower above you and a plethora of marine life forms weave their way in and out of these pillars of plant life. These underwater kelp forests are not just visually breathtaking spectacles; they are also genetically diverse and extremely productive ecosystems. These ecosystems found in temperate, tropical, and polar coastlines all over the world.

California’s kelp forest is currently 30% of the size that it was 7,500 years ago, and a number of factors could be contributing to the decline of this kelp forest. However, it was found that run-off from fertilizers and sewage had a relatively little effect on the ecosystem, especially when compared to the profound effect that results from overfishing.

Predators in the food chain are often removed by fishing, and their prey, usually kelp eating organisms, proliferates as a result. This can be extremely deleterious to the kelp forests and could end up adversely affecting the entire ecosystem.

Discussion Question: How do you think run-off affects kelp forest ecosystems?

News Articles:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/05/060525193843.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091111092049.htm
Journal Article :
http://science.samxxzy.ns02.info/cgi/content/abstract/312/5777/1230