Kelp Forest
Kelp
 Largest
type of brown algae
– Up to 100 m long
 Grow
 May
up 1 ½ - 2 feet/ day
form dense beds or forests
Structure of Kelp
Pneumatocysts
Abiotic Factors
 Restricted
to cold water
 Sunlight
 Hard
substrate
 Located
ocean
down eastern shores of
Seasons in Kelp Forest

Spring
– Upwelling fertilizes
kelp
– Abundant plankton,
fish feed

Summer
– Rapid growth

Autumn
– Relatively calm

Winter
– Stormy
– Many kelp torn up
Abundant Animal Life
 Kelp
feeders
– Top snail
– Sea urchins – usu. feed on drift kelp
 Scavengers
– Kelp crabs
– Decorator crabs
 Other
invertebrates
– Brittle stars
– Sea stars
– Crabs
– Octopuses
 Fish
– Giant kelp fish
– Garibaldi
– Opaleye
– Halibut
– Tubesnout
☺☺☺Sea Otters☺☺☺
Smallest marine mammal
 No blubber
 Spend lives in oceans

– Anchor to kelp when sleeping
Kelp forests affected by
climate
El Nino
La Nina