The Kelp Forest
What are 3 of the defining characteristics of a kelp forest?
They are underwater areas with a high density of kelp.
Highly productive and contribute significantly to the production of inshore waters.
Kelp forests are physically formed by brown macroalgae, of the order Laminariales.
What are the 3 types of habitat found in deep sea coral communities?
Soft Bottom, Rocky Bottom, Ledge
How long can the coastal redwoods live for?
These trees are long-lived and can thrive for over 2,000 years.
Describe how Kelp forests and Redwood Forests can help us to combat climate change.
They both sequester carbon from the atmosphere.
Where in the world are Kelp Forests found?
Kelp Forests thrive best in cold, nutrient-rich waters.
They are found in shallow open waters, and the Antarctic and Arctic circles, living in waters with a temperature less than 20°C.
As of 2007, Kelp Forests have been recorded in tropical waters near Ecuador.
The need for light to perform photosynthesis restricts them to depths no greater than 15-40 meters.
What is the depth range for deep sea coral communities?
50-2000 meters
160-6500 feet
Which species of Redwood is the tallest and what is the height of the tallest tree found.
Coastal Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens)
379 feet tall
Where can the Dawn Redwoods be found?
China
What are the two types of Kelp found in Monterey Bay?
Giant Kelp and the Bullwhip Kelp are the primary species in the Monterey Bay Kelp Forests
Where are Deep Sea Coral Communities found?
They are found all around the world in deep waters with temperatures down to -1°C (30.2°F) and 50-200m (or 160-6500ft).
What 2 adaptations help Redwoods to be fire resistant?
Their thick bark helps protect them from damage, and their tall, straight trunks can be less likely to catch fire compared to other species.
Define a Keystone Species and give an example from any of the 3 ecosystems we covered in class.
A “keystone” species is a species that has an effect on its environment disproportionate to its abundance.
Sea Otter / Redwood Forest
List 5 reasons kelp is important.
Provides a three-dimensional habitat for many marine organisms
They have been the focus of extensive research for the last century, mainly in Trophic Ecology.
Kelp Forests can influence coastal oceanographic patterns
Can also provide substantial ecosystem services
Provide protection to coastlines from storms and waves
Provide economic value through tourism, ingredients to food products, and through fisheries.
Being a primary Producer, kelp sequesters carbon to help with climate change
Give two examples of each of the following types of animals found in the deep sea coral communities:
Soft Corals
Hard Corals
Invertebrates
Vertebrates
Soft Corals
Sea fans, sea pens, black coral
Hard Corals
Cup corals, reef-building Lophelia
Invertebrates
Sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, feather stars, crustaceans
Vertebrates
Rockfish, lingcod, rays, other fish
List both the common name and Genus species of the 3 living species of Redwood Trees.
Coast Redwoods: Sequoia sempervirens
Giant Sequoias: Sequoiadendron giganteum
Dawn Redwood: Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Describe the 3 types of Consumers? Give an example of each type from any of the 3 ecosystems we covered in class.
Herbivores, Omnivores, and Carnivores.
Describe the two main roles of Kelp in the Kelp Forest.
The Foundation Species are species that have a strong role in structuring a community.
Kelp is the Foundation Species of the Kelp Forest due to being what the kelp forests are built off of (like Corals for Coral Reefs, or Trees for Terrestrial Forests)
Primary Producers are organisms that can convert light energy or chemical energy into organic matter.
Kelp being a primary producer helps to create oxygen and sequester carbon. As well, providing food for grazers as the base of the food chain.
Other primary producers in the kelp forest include the phytoplankton (microscopic marine algae), Giant Kelp , Bull Kelp , Oarweed and Feather Boa Kelp, and red algae such as coralline algae and Turkish towel.
Fill in the blanks.
Deep-sea corals live in _____________ conditions and do not rely on _______________. Instead, they actively ____________ and __________ free floating food, such as _______________.
Deep-sea corals live in low-light environments and do not rely on zooxanthellae. Instead, they actively capture and consume free floating food, such as zooplankton.
Describe two of the ways climate change could affect Redwood Forests.
Rising Temperatures: Changes in temperature could affect the growth patterns of redwoods, shifting their ideal growing conditions or increasing their vulnerability to pests and diseases.
Ocean Acidification: Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean, leading to acidification. This can disrupt marine ecosystems that redwoods depend on, such as the availability of nutrients brought by ocean currents and affect species that are in the food web of the Redwood Forest
List and define the 3 types of symbiotic relationships and provide an example of each type.
Mutualistic: both parties benefit
ex. Rock Wrasse (cleaner fish eating parasites off others)
Commensalism: one party benefits but the other is unharmed
ex. Barnacles and Whales (barnacle catches ride and does not harm whale)
Parasitic: When one benefits and the other is harmed
ex. Sea Otter and worm (eats its food sea otter is harmed)