Why Are Kelp Forests Important

April 17, 2018

Kelp forests also act to reduce the force of storm-driven tides and surges and act like a trash fence to help retain nearshore sand preventing erosion. The forests exist all over the world from temperate oceans to Polar Regions.

Kelp Forests Oceans Coasts Seashores U S National Park Service

Accordingly why are kelp forests important for humans.

Why are kelp forests important. Marine life kelp forests just like forests on land are food shelter nurseries hunting grounds and general living space for all sorts of animals. They break the matter down into more digestible particles making it much easier for filter feeders to digest. Kelp forests are regarded as one of the worlds most vibrant and fruitful ecosystems.

The forests serve important benefits to human beings and marine life due to their diversity in functionality and structure. Due to their dense nature kelp forests help to reduce coastal erosion and damage. Like trees in a forest these.

This helps slow erosion along our coastline and prevent loss of sand from our beaches. Sea otters are a keystone species because they play an extremely important role in maintaining the structure of the ecological community. A second important function of both kelp forests and coral reefs is the production of organic material.

Specifically kelp forests can help to be a buffer during intense storms. Sea urchins like kelp - a lot - and if their populations get too big they may graze a kelp forest to death. Kelp forests are submerged forests or zones that have high concentrations of brown seaweed or kelp.

The kelp forest ecosystem around the Channel Islands largely depends on the relationship between sea otters and sea urchins. Other animals feed off of the kelp plants. A kelp forest is an ecosystem in itself.

Theyre a vital habitat for schools of fish. Why are Kelp Forests Important. Because kelp can do everything.

Kelp serves as an ecosystem foundation. The kelp forest along the coastline of Southern California also helps us humans in a many surprising ways too. Theyre important for young fish to hide in sea urchins to graze on and otters and seals to hunt in.

When you understand how marine life lives with the kelp forests you can begin to understand the big picture. Kelp forests provide food and shelter for thousands of species In ideal conditions kelp can grow up to 18 inches per day and in stark contrast to the colorful and slow-growing corals the giant kelp canopies tower above the ocean floor. Studies show the positive role of healthy kelp forests in maintaining ecological balance and resilience and illustrate the importance of such balance in the face of climate-driven changes.

Its home to hundreds of thousands of marine species it can be used as a fertiliser and a biofuel it can be extracted to use in cosmetics like make-up and toothpaste amongst many more uses. Many animals use these massive forests to shelter their young from predators. Sea otters and sea urchins are particularly important to the health and stability of kelp forests.

Despite the many purposes kelp forests serve for marine life they are also beneficial to humans. Feeding and sheltering diverse ocean species. In a similar way to land plants kelps and the other seaweeds found in kelp forests grow by fixing carbon dioxide through the process of photosynthesis.

If they remain they may also inhibit the kelps ability to grow again in that area. Since kelp forest typically grows close to shore it acts as a barrier to buffer the power of currents and waves. An example in the kelp forest is the relationship between sea otters and sea urchins.

Here are three main reasons as to why Bacteria may well be the most important organism in the Kelp forests. Kelp forests also reduce coastal erosion and serve as a buffer against strong storm-born waves. Children in Cape Town in South Africa have been learning about the important role kelp forests play in protecting our planet and how this underwater ecosystem needs to.

Bacteria are hugely important in the break down of organic material such as kelp and sea grasses.

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