Kelp Forest Research Paper

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Kelp forests are long green leaf like vines that grow in the more shallow parts of the ocean.Kelp provide food and shelter for over a thousand species. Kelp can grow very tall, in the best conditions kelp can grow up to 18 inches per day. Kelp is in stark contrast to the colorful and slow growing ocean floors. Corals are slow growing, which is the opposite of the kelp that grows over a foot a day. The giant kelp canopies tower above the ocean floors. Kelp forest can be seen along much of the west coast.

Kelp forest can provide protection for organisms and their young with their thick blades or even through rough storms that hit the ocean. Many mammals and birds that use kelp forest for protection or feeding are sea lions, whales, sea otters, …show more content…
Kelp is one of the most productive habitats on earth. Kelp contributes to giving a sense to indigenous and coastal peoples that have used it for generations as medication, food and material. Kelp is very important to the planet and to people. The same research also highlights the importance of kelp forests in providing habitat for valuable fish and all while protecting biodiversity. But over the last 50 years, climate change,poor water quality and overfishing have damaged 40% to 60% of kelp forests, threatening these ecosystems and the benefits they provide. Kelp is a subgroup of brown seaweed that grows in cold nutrient rich waters commonly described as a foundation species. kelp creates forest like habitats fostering huge and diverse amounts of life including sea snails, brittles, stars, lobsters, various species of fish, seals,sea otters and more. Seaweed refers to the thousands of red, green and brown species of algae that come in a variety of shapes and sizes which grow in different depths and environments.Kelp forest can be found along the Eastern Coast, Pacific Coast and Alaska,Canada to the water of Baja California. Kelp is found in the life zone, the sunlight zone. Kelp is a photosynthesis which means they capture the energy from sunlight and use it to produce organic compounds through the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthetic organisms need sunlight to grow and the …show more content…
Kelp is in a lot of the things that humans use. Kelp was also important during World War 1: kelp was harvested to use to make gunpowder. But during that time, the removal was unregulated and highly destructive to those habits. Kelp is being removed better now in a more sustainable manner by removing only products for gelling foods,pharmaceuticals,and water, and fireproofing fabrics. Kelp is also used as a component in some fertilizers, a healthy ingredient in food, and a potential alternative energy source. Ocean currents also reduce wave action onshore. By altering the waves, kelp forest reduces erosion, decreasing expensive property protections or replacement. Kelp also helps with tourist travel. People will kayak or dive in the kelp forest. Commercial harvest is a potential danger to the kelp survival as the demand from pharmaceutical, aquaculture, and food companies has increased with time. Pollution in the form of sewage, industrial waste, inorganic fertilizers, and pesticides carried from fresh water on the land into the ocean waters and kelp forest can stunt the growth and reproduction of kelp forest. Growing kelp requires cold water and elevated seawater temperatures from global warming are a major threat to kelp forest
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