The Last Forests Project: A Story of Northern CA's Kelp Forest Ecosystem Collapse
Wednesday, June 10, 7 pm
Peacock Hall
Kelp beds support some of the planet’s most biodiverse ecosystems, furnishing essential food and habitat for fish, invertebrates, and marine mammals. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Bull kelp can reach 60 feet deep and grow six inches per day. In the last decade over 90% of Northern California kelp forests have been lost due to high ocean temperatures and an overpopulation of sea urchins, their main consumer.
An imbalance occurred when the natural predators of sea urchins -- otters and star fish -- declined. The decline of the kelp forests has had an extremely harmful impact on wildlife and local communities. Collaborative restoration efforts led by locals and scientists use practical actions such as urchin removal, planting kelp, and breeding otters. Kelp forests are recovering, and local wildlife is returning. Similar restoration efforts are occurring from Baja California, all the way up the west coast to Canada.
73 minutes, with captions.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/d7RUAlbe61k