Underwater Forests Exist and They’re as Mystical as You Would Think

Let’s delve into the ethereal realm of underwater paradise near Point Loma, where towering strands of giant kelp wag in synchronized harmony. As you begin reading, prepare to immerse yourself in a world teeming with vibrant marine life where an overload of aquatic creatures weaves an enchanting tapestry among the kelp stalks. 

However, let’s not overlook the marvels beneath the waves: the unsung heroes known as kelp forests. Found in the chilly waters along approximately a quarter of the world’s coastlines, these underwater landscapes are the backbone of various marine ecosystems. Beyond their economic value, kelp forests are also nature’s formidable shield, absorbing huge chunks of pollutants. Interestingly, recent research estimated the value of these ecosystems’ services to be roughly $500 billion. 

Warning research shows the troubling truth: kelp forests worldwide are declining. The UN’s recent comprehensive review emphasizes the forests’ widespread losses, with climate change poised to worsen the situation. 

Kelp, which not a plant but an algal beauty, thrives in a different aquatic kingdom. Rapid growth (up to two feet daily) sets them apart from their tree-like kin and creates a mesmerizing undersea spectacle.  

This significance extends to seafood lovers. For instance, commercial species – including Pollack, abalone, and lobster – exist in kelp forests for at least a portion of their lives. Recently, the journal Nature illustrated how a single hectare of kelp forest contributes an average of approximately $30,000 yearly to fisheries. 

Selflessly, they offset a significant portion of earth’s warming emissions without charge. A groundbreaking report in Nature shows that kelp forests, through their services, sequester a staggering 4.9 megatons of carbon yearly. Pound for pound, kelp forests rival their on-land peers in their carbon-removal prowess. 

Kira Krumhansl, a marine ecologist who led the global analysis and co-authored the review, has spoke about these reductions. Particularly vulnerable are regions closer to the equator, including Western Australia, southern New England, and Baja California. 

In addition to the complexity, warm waters hold fewer viral nutrients, restricting the growth of these majestic forests. Biologist Jarrett Byrnes of UMass Boston has shed more light on this twist. 

Once lobster, cod, and sea otters prey upon sea urchins, calamity ensues. The urchin population multiples, decimating kelp forests. This can make eerie urchin barrels emerge. From California to Tasmania and Japan, these barren landscapes witness devastation. 

Variability reigns supreme, as sole kelp forests endure, standing as resilient strongholds, while others surrender to the pressures of a changing world. 

Elsewhere, off the coast of South Africa, nature unveils another aberration. Anomalously cooling currents weave their magic, defying conventional wisdom. 

The 2016 analysis, our authority on the matter, only analyzed a mere fraction of the regions that harbor these forests. In the remote corners of South Africa and America, information is scarce. 

Pioneering the way, Bell and other scientists have developed Kelpwatch, a gateway to freely accessible satellite-based data. Through satellites’ attentive eyes, slight shifts in color reveal the secrets of kelp forest canopies.

With each passing year, the ocean’s warmth intensifies, and the threat of marine heat waves grows. Recently, an alarming truth was revealed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: since the 1980s, these heat events have doubled in frequency, thus, tightening their grip on kelp’s future. Will we stand as guardians of the underwater forests, or let the tides of change wash away these magnificent worlds forever? 

Likewise, urchin eradication can restore harmony. With this approach’s potent targeted measures, restoration can bring swift renewal to kelp realms. Fortunately, an arsenal of approaches awaits, supported by a devoted organization paving the way to revival.