#kelpforest

[heartspark]

Finished painting for thr very kind @//ronbenapping! I redid the background several times working on this but I'm pretty happy with the end result now 💖🥰

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Dragon Kelp - Eualaria fistulosa by Alexander Semenov Via Flickr: Here is an incredible giant kelp, Eualaria fistulosa, also called 'Dragon kelp'. Up to 25 metres long, it attaches to large rocks with the holdfast (a root-like structure) and rises to the surface. The midrib has gas-filled chambers that hold the whole thing up in the water.

[artsyleana]

Kelp mermaid! I love the idea where fishes and mermaids live in kind of a symbiotic relationship and take care of each other.

[plutotheunseelie]

Mermay day 3!

I'm already on a low effort day, this doesn't bode well D:

[calochortus]

Dragon Kelp - Eualaria fistulosa by Alexander Semenov Via Flickr: Here is an incredible giant kelp, Eualaria fistulosa, also called 'Dragon kelp'. Up to 25 metres long, it attaches to large rocks with the holdfast (a root-like structure) and rises to the surface. The midrib has gas-filled chambers that hold the whole thing up in the water.

[fatassfish]

Mentally i am in Kelp Forest™️

[currents-of-change]

Invasive Creatures Series – Part 1: The Tiny Marine Invader Destroying the Pacific’s Underwater Forests

Not every destructive force in the ocean is related to climate change. Meet the purple urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus), a small creature with a massive impact on marine ecosystems along the Pacific coast. While climate change often takes the blame for ocean devastation, this native species is playing a destructive role all its own — turning lush kelp forests into lifeless underwater deserts.

At first glance, the purple urchin seems harmless — a spiny invertebrate quietly grazing on kelp and algae. However, with the disappearance of their natural predators, like the once-abundant sea otter and starfish, purple urchins have been reproducing unchecked. Their population has exploded, and the consequences are devastating. Purple urchins devour kelp forests, which are critical marine ecosystems that provide shelter and food for countless species, including fish, sea otters, and invertebrates. In a healthy ocean, these kelp forests are bustling with life. But where the purple urchin thrives, these underwater jungles are rapidly disappearing, replaced by what scientists call “urchin barrens.”

The reason for this devastation is simple: purple urchins are voracious eaters. They consume kelp at an astonishing rate, and with fewer predators to keep their numbers in check, they swarm the ocean floor, stripping kelp forests of their ability to regenerate. What’s left behind is a barren, lifeless landscape where little else can survive. For marine life that depends on kelp for habitat and food, these barrens represent a significant loss of biodiversity.

Origins of the Purple Urchin

Native to the rocky shores of the northeastern Pacific Ocean, from Alaska to Baja California, purple urchins have been a part of these ecosystems for thousands of years. They typically live in harmony with their surroundings, nestled among rocks and feeding on kelp and algae. In a balanced ecosystem, the purple urchin is just one of many marine herbivores, kept in check by predators like sea otters and starfish.

However, over the past few decades, significant changes have occurred. The populations of the urchins’ natural predators have plummeted, leading to an explosion in the number of purple urchins. The reasons are many, and not all are related to climate change. The fur trade of the 19th and 20th centuries decimated sea otter populations along the West Coast, removing a key predator from the marine food web. More recently, sea star wasting syndrome, a mysterious disease, has wiped out large numbers of starfish, another important predator of purple urchins.

With their natural predators in decline, purple urchins have begun to multiply unchecked, transforming marine ecosystems. Their population boom has resulted in the overgrazing of kelp forests, turning once vibrant, underwater jungles into barren wastelands known as “urchin barrens.”

While the purple urchin is native to these waters, their unchecked population growth is having devastating impacts on the very environments they once thrived in. Their origins are a reminder that even native species can become invasive when ecological balance is disrupted. As they feast on kelp at alarming rates, they not only strip away a vital food source for marine life but also erase the shelter and biodiversity that kelp forests provide.

This destruction isn’t solely a result of climate change, though warming ocean temperatures and other environmental pressures certainly play a role. It’s also a stark example of how human actions — like hunting sea otters and disrupting predator populations — can ripple through ecosystems, leading to unintended consequences.

[marinemajesty1]

🌊 The Role of Kelp Forests: Oceanic Oases of Life 🌊

Did you know that beneath the ocean’s surface lies a lush, thriving world of kelp forests? These underwater marvels are more than just beautiful—they’re essential for our planet’s health!

🌟 What Makes Kelp Forests Special?

Home to countless marine species 🐠

Natural carbon absorbers, fighting climate change 🌍

Protect coastlines from erosion 🏖️

Provide resources for food and industry 🍴

💡 Facing Threats: Climate change, pollution, and overgrazing are putting these vital ecosystems at risk.

🌱 Hope for the Future: Discover how restoration efforts are bringing these underwater forests back to life.

👉 Read the full story on our blog: [https://marinemajesty.blogspot.com/2024/12/the-role-of-kelp-forests-oceanic-oases.html]

Let’s protect these oceanic treasures together! 🌊

[bettreworld]

Restoring Sussex's Kelp Forests: A Tale of Recovery and Hope

[radiomogai]

[PT: Coining:

Kelpforestic! end PT]

[PT: Related Pronouns. end PT]

Coining:

Kelpforestic!

A gender connected to kelp forests

Related Pronouns

Kelp/Kelps/Kelpself

Sea/Sear/Searself

Ocean/Ocean/Oceanself

Sea/Seaweed/Seaweedself

[waterworldunveiled]

The Cutest Day Ever: A Sea Otter's Life Unfolds #trending #otter #viralv...

Ever wondered how a sea otter spends its day? These adorable marine mammals are more than just cute—they’re essential to ocean ecosystems! From cracking open shellfish to floating in kelp beds, join us as we dive into the daily life of a sea otter. 🦦💙 In this video, you’ll discover: ✅ How sea otters eat and hunt 🦀🥢 ✅ Their playful and social behaviors 🤹‍♂️ ✅ The vital role they play in marine ecosystems 🌱 ✅ Conservation efforts to protect them 🛡️ 🐾 Join us on this otterly amazing journey! Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more wildlife adventures! 🎥🌊 00:00 Dawn Patrol 00:47 Breakfast Time 01:46 Play Time 02:37 Survival Strategies 03:20 Sunset and Sleep #SeaOtter #MarineLife #WildlifeDocumentary #OceanExploration #Otters #NatureLover #UnderwaterWorld #CuteAnimals #ProtectOurOceans #EndangeredSpecies #WildlifeConservation #ScubaDiving #KelpForest #AnimalLovers

[supedium]

The Role of Algae in Coastal Protection

https://supedium.com/phycology/the-role-of-algae-in-coastal-protection/ #Algae #Coastalprotection #Erosioncontrol #kelpforests #Nutrientcycling #Seagrass The Role of Algae in Coastal Protection https://supedium.com/phycology/the-role-of-algae-in-coastal-protection/

[naturallyadventured]

powerful.xaayda

. #befree #bewild #befun 😍 #throwbackthursday 15 years ago when I was a Xaayda watchmen in #gwaiihaanas I grew up #skinnydipping #oceanlife #camplife #kelpforest #nativebeauty #hippie #islandgirl someone just brought this photo up🙃made me miss my old life before I got dogs💓

[noaasanctuaries]

New Release: Kelp Forest Ecosystems Resource Collection

Kelp forests are an important ecosystem that support a variety of species and grow predominantly along the Eastern Pacific Coast, from Alaska and Canada to the waters of Baja, California. Kelp forests can be found in four of our national marine sanctuaries along the West Coast of the United States. This collection has compiled wide-ranging resources from lesson plans, webinars, web stories, virtual reality videos, and more.

You are invited to learn more about the importance of Kelp Forest Ecosystems, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s efforts to manage and conserve them, the species that call these forests home, and the threats kelp face.

[dragonmythfandom]

Mermaidkin

[scribblesartcollective]

A trio of rockfish this Thursday Where did the week go? 😩 Painting by @circadiancrunch Inquire for purchase #artcollective #rockfish #watercolorpainting #fish #marinelifeart #fishpainting #originalart #wildlifeart #gamefish #kelpforest #watercolor #thursdaymotivation #weeksalmostover #highdesertlife (at Scribbles Art Collective) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cov01NHt2Ie/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=