Substantial blue carbon in overlooked Australian kelp forests

Large-Scale Geographic Variation in Distribution and Abundance of Australian Deep-Water Kelp Forests

Despite the significance of marine habitat-forming organisms, little is known about their large-scale distribution and abundance in deeper waters, where they are difficult to access. Such information is necessary to develop sound conservation and management strategies. Kelps are main habitat-formers in temperate reefs worldwide; however, these habitats are highly sensitive to environmental chan...

Physical disturbances in an Australian kelp

Physical disturbances leading to clearances of kelp canopies were investigated for their effects on understorey species. First, frequencies and types of natural dsturbances in a kelp forest were quanhf~ed from data on s t o m activity and undenvater surveys. Storms removed parts of kelp plants, whole plants and groups of plants. The latter led to cleanngs and Increased the quanhty of light reac...

Gabon’s Overlooked Carbon

Large dead trees and other large forest detritus (collectively known as coarse woody debris, or CWD) play an important role in the global carbon cycle. In tropical systems, CWD stocks (necromass) have been found to constitute 5% to 33% of total biomass. Despite harboring the second largest rain forest on earth, in Central Africa there have been virtually no studies of coarse woody debris. In th...

Spatial synchrony of amphipods in giant kelp forests

Spatial patterns of invertebrate settlement in giant kelp forests

Settlement of kelp-associated organisms may vary as they are delivered to (and through) giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forests, with implications for local population dynamics and community structure. Previous work suggests that settlement of invertebrates with long pelagic durations would be reduced as they move from an offshore environment toward the interior of kelp forests due to dampene...