Kelp Restoration

I. Restoration techniques for 2 main canopy forming kelps on West coast

-Macrocystis pyrifera (Giant kelp)

-Nereocystis luetkeana (Bull kelp)

II. Ecological functions of kelp forest habitat

-High productivity (growth rate)

-Structural habitat for commercial fish

-C source for herbivores and successive trophic levels

-Mechanical: shoreline buffers to flooding and erosion

-Promotes water quality

III. Ecology/Distribution/Morphology

Distribution

-Macrocystis pyrifera (Giant kelp)

-Nereocystis luetkeana (Bull kelp)

Nereocystis life cycle

Limiting factors

-Light

-Temperature

-Salinity

-Competition with other algae

-Grazing pressure

Adaptations to limiting factors

-e.g. Endophytic relationship with red algae

IV. Why is Restoration important?

Negative impacts:

-Shoreline development

-Siltation from terrestrial runoff

-Oil spills

-Invasive species

-Food-web imbalances

V. Examples:

Restoration project: Elliott Bay Marina Mitigation – long line cultivation

-Advantages/Disadvantages

Restoration Project: SONGS Nuclear Power Plant – Reef installation

-Advantages/Disadvantages

Experimental techniques

-Cultured substrate out-planting

-Juvenile transplanting

-Sori installation

Future Research