Analysis of “A Forest Under The Sea”- Studying Giant Kelp’s Benefits to Ecosystems, and Evaluating Kelp Restoration

• Main Author: Boyd, Natalie V.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: The Cupola: Scholarship at Gettysburg College 2023
• Subjects: Environmental Sciences; Marine Biology; Plant Sciences; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/cafe2023/2; https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/context/cafe2023/article/1001/viewcontent/Boyd_Natalie___Research_Symposium_Boyd.pdf

I wrote a research paper on how Giant Kelp needs to be restored due to the rising ocean temperatures. There are two methods that I specifically focused on and learned about which are "Super Kelp" and "Green Gravel." Giant Kelp is critical to our ecosystem and marine life specifically due to all the benefits that it supplies. For example, kelp forests can sequester up to 20 times more carbon than a land forest. Unfortunately, the kelp is dying off rapidly now because of climate change; specifically the rising temperatures and increased ocean acidification. In order to save the kelp, action must be taken now, and it is critical to the Earth's biodiversity that kelp remains as part of the ecosystem, or else it could be lost forever.