We are conducting the first comprehensive pole to pole study of floating kelp forests along the Pacific coast, spanning from Alaska to Patagonia. This project focuses on understanding where kelp ecosystems exist, how healthy they are, and what environmental factors are influencing their distribution and survival across a massive geographic scale. By studying the entire coastline as one connected system, we are able to investigate patterns that have never been captured before. Using a consistent methodology across all sites, the team is building a coast wide dataset that has not previously existed. This consistency is critical because it allows for direct comparisons between regions, something that is not possible with isolated local studies.
So far, with over 15 completed sites in British Columbia, Alaska, and Patagonia, we have gathered extensive underwater video and photographic footage along with quadrat drop surveys, CTD data, drone imagery, satellite observations, and Secchi disk measurements. Together, these methods provide a full picture of what is happening both below and above the ocean surface. While much of the data is still being analyzed, the imagery alone is already revealing important patterns in kelp distribution, structure, and associated species. 🌎🌊
To support this vital work, please donate!:
https://account.venmo.com/u/oneislandoneocean
(visit the link in bio for other ways to contribute)!
