MPAs Can Bolster Kelp Forests Under Climate Stress, Study Finds
California's once-thriving kelp forests are facing severe threats from climate change and imbalanced food webs. A 2014-2016 heat wave saw over 90% of kelp canopy lost in Northern California. Now, a study published in 'Scientific Reports' offers hope, showing that marine protected areas (MPAs) can bolster these vital ecosystems.
Kelp forests, Earth's most productive ecosystems, absorb carbon, shelter marine life, and protect coastal communities. However, they're under increasing climate stress and have been damaged by overgrazing sea urchins. A collaborative study involving UC Santa Barbara's Bren School found that MPAs can aid recovery.
Researchers discovered that MPAs with 'no-take' policies, where fishing is prohibited, are most effective. These areas can increase kelp coverage by 8.5% following climate disturbances, helping to control sea urchin populations. Kelp canopy serves as a useful indicator of ecosystem resilience within MPAs under climate change stress.
Further research is needed to understand how multiple stressors interact to influence kelp forest recovery. This study is among the first to document MPAs' advantage for kelp forest preservation, in addition to their established value for biodiversity conservation.
MPAs can enhance the resilience of kelp forests under climate change, particularly in Southern California. By controlling sea urchin populations and increasing kelp coverage, these protected areas can help preserve these vital ecosystems and the services they provide.
Read also:
- Two farmers in Zambia take legal action against two firms with Chinese connections, alleging an ecological disaster caused by their operations.
- Deepening EU-India relations despite apprehensions regarding Moscow connections
- Ongoing Transition Towards Cleanliness
- Biden-Harris Administration's Public Lands Rule Sparks Utah Dispute
