Context: Recently, a study was published on the impact of Climate change on the unique evolutionary diversity in the Australian kelp forest.

Key Highlights of Study

• Climate change is threatening the high and unique genetic diversity found among eastern Australian low-latitude range-edge populations, with warming causing declines of Ecklonia radiata.

• Ecklonia radiata, commonly known as spiny kelp or leather kelp, is a species of kelp.

• Ecklonia radiata can sometimes persist at lower latitudes, aided by cool water upwelling or in deep-water refugia where they are protected by thermocline.

• Thermocline is the transition layer between the warmer mixed water at the surface and the cooler deep water below.

Kelp and Kelp forests

• Kelp Forests are underwater ecosystems formed in shallow water by the dense growth of several different species known as kelps.

• They are extremely large brown algae.

• They cover over 20% of the world’s coastlines.

• Some species can reach heights (underwater) of 150 feet (45 m).

• They can develop very quickly in areas where they did not previously exist.

• They can disappear and reappear based on the oceanographic conditions and the population sizes of their primary herbivores. 

• They grow best in cold, nutrient-rich water.

• Kelp attaches to the seafloor and eventually grows to the water’s surface

• They rely on sunlight to generate food and energy.

• They live further from the tropics.

• They are always coastal and require shallow, relatively clear water. 

• They can calm stormy waters.

• They provide underwater habitats.

• That is home to hundreds or thousands of species of invertebrates, fishes, and other algae. 

• Some species aggregate and spawn in kelp forests or utilize these areas as juvenile nursery habitats.

• Giant kelp is harvested from kelp forests and used as a binding agent in products like ice cream, cereal, ranch dressing, yogurt, toothpaste, lotion, and more.