Underwater Cathedrals: The Kelp Forests
These are known as kelp forests which consist of large brown algae that live in cool, relatively shallow waters near to the shore. Kelp can grow rapidly, up to 2 feet per day and they grow in dense groupings much like a forest on land and found along approximately 25% of the world’s coastlines, predominantly in the Pacific coast from Alaska to parts of Baja California.
Kelp forests bear a greater variety and higher diversity of plants and animals than almost any other ocean community. Many organisms use these dense forests as a safe shelter for their young from predators or even from natural disturbances like rough storms. These underwater towers provide food, shelter, and protection for all kinds of marine life, including fish, seals, sea lions and sea otters. In addition to this, it provides significant ecological, economic, and environmental benefits like Carbon Sequestration by absorbing and storing large amounts of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and reducing greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere, act as natural buffers against coastal erosion from strong waves, provide economically valuable products, maintain water quality by absorbing nutrients and carbon dioxide, Preventing growth of harmful algal blooms, provide recreational and aesthetic Value by offering unique underwater experiences for scuba divers, snorkelers, and ecotourists.
Unfortunately, today the world's kelp density is declining due to various threats such as commercial kelp harvesting, pollution, overfishing, climate change, overgrazing by animals like sea urchin, coastal developments, storm surge etc.
Protecting kelp forests requires addressing these threats through conservation efforts, sustainable fishing practices, pollution control, and managing climate change and restoring kelp forests is essential to maintaining their vital contributions to both marine life and human well-being.
📝Written by - J.K.Sandali Rashmika
3rd year (20/21 batch)
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