Marine biologyLesson 1 of 1 in the course Marine ecosystems

Kelp Forest Ecology: Structure, Food Webs, Disturbance, and Conservation

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Kelp forests are productive coastal ecosystems built by large brown algae. This lesson introduces where they occur, what kelp is, and the conditions that allow it to grow.

A kelp forest is an underwater area with a high density of kelp. Smaller areas of anchored kelp are often called kelp beds. Kelp forests occur along temperate and polar coastlines worldwide and are among Earth's most productive and dynamic ecosystems. Kelp forests combined with coral reefs cover only about 0.1% of Earth's surface, yet account for about 0.9% of global primary productivity.

All flashcards

What distinguishes a kelp forest from a kelp bed?
A kelp forest is an underwater area with a high density of kelp; smaller areas of anchored kelp are often called kelp beds.
What is a kelp thallus?
It is the body of an alga. In kelp, it includes structures such as the holdfast, stipe, and fronds.
What are the functions of the holdfast, stipe, and fronds?
The holdfast anchors kelp, the stipe supports its other structures, and the fronds are sites of photosynthesis and nutrient uptake.
What are pneumatocysts?
They are gas-filled bladders in many kelp species that provide buoyancy and help hold the kelp upright in the water.
Why is upwelling important to kelp?
Upwelling brings cool, nutrient-rich water toward the surface, supplying conditions that can promote kelp growth and productivity.

Quiz questions

  1. In kelp ecology, what makes an organism an ecosystem engineer?Answer: It changes physical conditions in ways that create or modify habitat for other species.
  2. What characterizes bottom-up control in a kelp forest food web?Answer: Physical resources affect kelp and then influence organisms at higher trophic levels.
  3. In the Alaskan sea otter–urchin–kelp system, what can happen when otters are removed?Answer: Urchins may increase, graze more heavily on kelp, and contribute to forest decline.
  4. How can abundant drift kelp affect herbivores in a kelp forest?Answer: It can provide food and reduce grazing on kelp still attached to the seafloor.
  5. How can marine protected areas benefit kelp forests?Answer: They can limit some human pressures while protecting habitat, species, and ecological relationships.

Based on the Wikipedia article Kelp forest, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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