Threats and knowledge gaps for ecosystem services provided by kelp forests: a northeast Atlantic perspective.
Kelp forests along temperate and polar coastlines represent some of most diverse and productive habitats on the Earth. Here, we synthesize information from >60 years of research on the structure and functioning of kelp forest habitats in European waters, with particular emphasis on the coasts of...
Published in: | Ecology and Evolution |
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Language: | English |
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2013
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Online Access: | https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/2d09df7e-356e-41b4-a6a4-42b149cd94f9 https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.774 https://pureadmin.qub.ac.uk/ws/files/5970848/Smale_et_al_13.pdf |
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ftqueensubelpubl:oai:pure.qub.ac.uk/portal:publications/2d09df7e-356e-41b4-a6a4-42b149cd94f9 2024-09-15T18:25:27+00:00 Threats and knowledge gaps for ecosystem services provided by kelp forests: a northeast Atlantic perspective. Smale, Dan A. Burrows, Michael T. Moore, Pippa O'Connor, Nessa Hawkins, Stephen J. 2013-10 application/pdf https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/2d09df7e-356e-41b4-a6a4-42b149cd94f9 https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.774 https://pureadmin.qub.ac.uk/ws/files/5970848/Smale_et_al_13.pdf eng eng https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/2d09df7e-356e-41b4-a6a4-42b149cd94f9 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Smale , D A , Burrows , M T , Moore , P , O'Connor , N & Hawkins , S J 2013 , ' Threats and knowledge gaps for ecosystem services provided by kelp forests: a northeast Atlantic perspective. ' , Ecology and Evolution , vol. 3 , no. 11 , pp. 4016-4038 . https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.774 /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1105 name=Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2303 /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2309 name=Nature and Landscape Conservation /dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/climate_action name=SDG 13 - Climate Action article 2013 ftqueensubelpubl https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.774 2024-07-22T23:44:20Z Kelp forests along temperate and polar coastlines represent some of most diverse and productive habitats on the Earth. Here, we synthesize information from >60 years of research on the structure and functioning of kelp forest habitats in European waters, with particular emphasis on the coasts of UK and Ireland, which represents an important biogeographic transition zone that is subjected to multiple threats and stressors. We collated existing data on kelp distribution and abundance and reanalyzed these data to describe the structure of kelp forests along a spatial gradient spanning more than 10° of latitude. We then examined ecological goods and services provided by kelp forests, including elevated secondary production, nutrient cycling, energy capture and flow, coastal defense, direct applications, and biodiversity repositories, before discussing current and future threats posed to kelp forests and identifying key knowledge gaps. Recent evidence unequivocally demonstrates that the structure of kelp forests in the NE Atlantic is changing in response to climate- and non-climate-related stressors, which will have major implications for the structure and functioning of coastal ecosystems. However, kelp-dominated habitats along much of the NE Atlantic coastline have been chronically understudied over recent decades in comparison with other regions such as Australasia and North America. The paucity of field-based research currently impedes our ability to conserve and manage these important ecosystems. Targeted observational and experimental research conducted over large spatial and temporal scales is urgently needed to address these knowledge gaps. Article in Journal/Newspaper Northeast Atlantic Queen's University Belfast Research Portal Ecology and Evolution 3 11 4016 4038 |
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English |
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/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1105 name=Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2303 /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2309 name=Nature and Landscape Conservation /dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/climate_action name=SDG 13 - Climate Action |
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/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1105 name=Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2303 /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2309 name=Nature and Landscape Conservation /dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/climate_action name=SDG 13 - Climate Action Smale, Dan A. Burrows, Michael T. Moore, Pippa O'Connor, Nessa Hawkins, Stephen J. Threats and knowledge gaps for ecosystem services provided by kelp forests: a northeast Atlantic perspective. |
topic_facet |
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1105 name=Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2303 /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2309 name=Nature and Landscape Conservation /dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/climate_action name=SDG 13 - Climate Action |
description |
Kelp forests along temperate and polar coastlines represent some of most diverse and productive habitats on the Earth. Here, we synthesize information from >60 years of research on the structure and functioning of kelp forest habitats in European waters, with particular emphasis on the coasts of UK and Ireland, which represents an important biogeographic transition zone that is subjected to multiple threats and stressors. We collated existing data on kelp distribution and abundance and reanalyzed these data to describe the structure of kelp forests along a spatial gradient spanning more than 10° of latitude. We then examined ecological goods and services provided by kelp forests, including elevated secondary production, nutrient cycling, energy capture and flow, coastal defense, direct applications, and biodiversity repositories, before discussing current and future threats posed to kelp forests and identifying key knowledge gaps. Recent evidence unequivocally demonstrates that the structure of kelp forests in the NE Atlantic is changing in response to climate- and non-climate-related stressors, which will have major implications for the structure and functioning of coastal ecosystems. However, kelp-dominated habitats along much of the NE Atlantic coastline have been chronically understudied over recent decades in comparison with other regions such as Australasia and North America. The paucity of field-based research currently impedes our ability to conserve and manage these important ecosystems. Targeted observational and experimental research conducted over large spatial and temporal scales is urgently needed to address these knowledge gaps. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Smale, Dan A. Burrows, Michael T. Moore, Pippa O'Connor, Nessa Hawkins, Stephen J. |
author_facet |
Smale, Dan A. Burrows, Michael T. Moore, Pippa O'Connor, Nessa Hawkins, Stephen J. |
author_sort |
Smale, Dan A. |
title |
Threats and knowledge gaps for ecosystem services provided by kelp forests: a northeast Atlantic perspective. |
title_short |
Threats and knowledge gaps for ecosystem services provided by kelp forests: a northeast Atlantic perspective. |
title_full |
Threats and knowledge gaps for ecosystem services provided by kelp forests: a northeast Atlantic perspective. |
title_fullStr |
Threats and knowledge gaps for ecosystem services provided by kelp forests: a northeast Atlantic perspective. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Threats and knowledge gaps for ecosystem services provided by kelp forests: a northeast Atlantic perspective. |
title_sort |
threats and knowledge gaps for ecosystem services provided by kelp forests: a northeast atlantic perspective. |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/2d09df7e-356e-41b4-a6a4-42b149cd94f9 https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.774 https://pureadmin.qub.ac.uk/ws/files/5970848/Smale_et_al_13.pdf |
genre |
Northeast Atlantic |
genre_facet |
Northeast Atlantic |
op_source |
Smale , D A , Burrows , M T , Moore , P , O'Connor , N & Hawkins , S J 2013 , ' Threats and knowledge gaps for ecosystem services provided by kelp forests: a northeast Atlantic perspective. ' , Ecology and Evolution , vol. 3 , no. 11 , pp. 4016-4038 . https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.774 |
op_relation |
https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/2d09df7e-356e-41b4-a6a4-42b149cd94f9 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.774 |
container_title |
Ecology and Evolution |
container_volume |
3 |
container_issue |
11 |
container_start_page |
4016 |
op_container_end_page |
4038 |
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1810465964266881024 |