Published

Credit: Sarah Sampson

Credit: Sarah Sampson

A marine heat wave of extreme magnitude and duration in 2014-15 allowed SBC LTER researchers to test predictions about the effects of climate change on kelp forests. Although kelp was diminished by the prolonged high temperature and low nitrate conditions, it rebounded quickly, and most other flora and fauna were not greatly affected. Ocean sampling revealed that ammonium and urea persisted during warm periods and experiments showed that kelp can use these recycled nitrogen sources.

Learn more

  1. Reed, DC et al. 2016. Extreme warming challenges sentinel status of kelp forests as indicators of climate change. Nature Communications. doi: 10.1038/ncomms13757
  2. Smith, JM et al. 2018. Urea as a source of nitrogen to giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera). Limnology and Oceanography Letters. doi: 10.1002/ lol2.10088

Contact

Robert Miller
miller@msi.ucsb.edu

Posted:  July 15, 2020  

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