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What are kelp forests and how do they benefit us?

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What are kelp forests and how do they benefit us?

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In order to understand what a kelp forest is, you must understand what kelp is. The best way to describe kelp is that it's a large, brown algae. Like terrestrial forest, they grow in dense clusters, provide shelter, food and protection, and need high nutrients in order to grow. Kelp forests grow in the cold, shallow waters because they need to be able to reach sunlight in order to accomplish photosynthesis.
FUN FACT: Kelp can grow up to 18 inches a day!!

Now, the benefits we receive from kelp forests, and the reason why we should protect them at all cost, is that they protect our coastlines from storm surge (burst), and they help absorb a lot of Carbn dioxide in the atmosphere.

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"Sea otters live in shallow coastal waters off the northern Pacific. Their historic range stretched from Japan, along the coast of Siberia and the Aleutian Chain and down the Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California coast to Baja California. Currently sea otters can be found in Canada, Russia, Japan, California and Washington, but the majority of all wild sea otters are found in Alaskan waters. Recent reports of sea otter sightings have also occurred in Mexico." -Defenders of Wildlife

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What makes kelp forests and otters a dynamic duo?

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What makes kelp forests and otters a dynamic duo?

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Sea otters and kelp forest work as an awesome team because they both help one another in improving ocean life. Kelp forest play a major role in a sea otter's life because the forest is used for the otter's security, food source, and even creates a home for the otters. The otters play a role in maintaining the kelp population by eating sea urchins, which consume kelp.
FUN FACT: Otters use kelp/sea weed as a connecting device when in groups so that they won't float away from each other when sleeping.

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Thanks to environmentalist and conservationalist, we have been able to protect the sea otter's lives by developing facilities and organizations that support these creatures. We have done many jobs to help their health, by doing oil'pollution clean-up, and even a reduction in hunting and poaching.

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...but whOT-TER we gonna do to fix our current problems?!

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...but whOT-TER we gonna do to fix our current problems?!

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As of 2013, it has been reported by fronteirscienctist.com that humans still put otter's lives at risk. One of the conflicts that human's face with the endangerment of otters is the fishing industry. The fishermen leave out nets and traps, even discard equipment, and otters will get caught in the equipment, levaing them to drown.
Another problem is that oil spills still ocntinue to happen. Although there are oil clean ups for teh ocean and marine life, the oil still affects few too many. When oil touches the otter's fur, it doesn't get absorbed beacuse their coats are made to block-out water/liquids. So when it comes to cleaning their dur, they lick off the oil that is left there, and then die from the toxins.
Lastly, a reason for otter's struggling is the warming of the climate. Not only is it effecting the otters, but it has impacted all of nature too.
These animals are considered endangered at the moment, due to all the conflicts we face. However, due to the people respecting the new protecting rights and joining the movement, the population of otters is, and will, be increasing again.

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*Most Common Invertebrates (All feeding off of algae and holdfasts)
-Bristle Worms
-Scud
-Prawn
-Snails
-Brittle Stars

*Mammals
-Sea Lions
-Seals
-Grey Whales
-Sea Otters

*Other
-Rockfish
-Sea Stars
-Crabs
-Jellyfish
-Anemones
-Sea Urchins

*Birds- due to the flys that swarm over teh kelp, and fish that inhabitant the kelp forests, birds have an advantage and are able to live off of kelp forests.

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“Basic Facts about Sea Otters.” Defenders of Wildlife, 19 Sept. 2016, defenders.org/sea-otter/basic-facts.

“Basic Facts about Sea Otters.” Defenders of Wildlife, 19 Sept. 2016, defenders.org/sea-otter/basic-facts.

“Future - Sea Otters: Saving Kelp Forests and Our Climate.” BBC, BBC, 21 Jan. 2014, www.bbc.com/future/story/20140121-sea-otters-our-ocean-protectors.

“Sea Otters and Kelp Forests Helping You.” Frontier Scientists, 17 Aug. 2015, frontierscientists.com/2013/10/sea-otters-kelp-forests-helping-you/.

“Thanks to Sea Otters, Kelp Forests Absorb Vast Amounts of CO2.” SeaOtters.com, seaotters.com/2012/09/thanks-to-sea-otters-kelp-forests-absorb-vast-amounts-of-co2/.

US Department of Commerce, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “What Is a Kelp Forest?” NOAA's National Ocean Service, 1 June 2013, oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/kelp.html.

US Department of Commerce, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “What Lives in a Kelp Forest.” NOAA's National Ocean Service, 10 Nov. 2009, oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/kelplives.html.

“Why Are Sea Otters Important? No Sea Otters. No Kelp Forests.” SeaOtters.com, seaotters.com/2013/05/why-are-sea-otters-important-no-sea-otters-no-kelp-forests/.