What does the future look like for kelp when facing multiple stressors?

As primary producers and ecosystem engineers, kelp (generally Order Laminariales) are ecologically important, and their decline could have far‐reaching consequences. Kelp are valuable in forming habitats for fish and invertebrates and are crucial for adaptation to climate change by creating coastal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology and evolution 2023-06, Vol.13 (6), p.e10203-n/a
Main Authors: Wear, Brigitte, O'Connor, Nessa E., Schmid, Matthias J., Jackson, Michelle C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acidification
Algae
Applied Ecology
Carbon sequestration
Climate adaptation
Climate change
Conservation
conservation biology
Ecosystems
Food chains
Food webs
global change
marine ecology
Photosynthesis
Predators
Productivity
Sedimentation & deposition
stressor interactions
Temperature
Ultraviolet radiation
Viewpoint
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Summary:As primary producers and ecosystem engineers, kelp (generally Order Laminariales) are ecologically important, and their decline could have far‐reaching consequences. Kelp are valuable in forming habitats for fish and invertebrates and are crucial for adaptation to climate change by creating coastal defenses and in providing key functions, such as carbon sequestration and food provision. Kelp are threatened by multiple stressors, such as climate change, over‐harvesting of predators, and pollution. In this opinion paper, we discuss how these stressors may interact to affect kelp, and how this varies under different contexts. We argue that more research that bridges kelp conservation and multiple stressor theory is needed and outline key questions that should be addressed as a priority. For instance, it is important to understand how previous exposure (either to earlier generations or life stages) determines responses to emerging stressors, and how responses in kelp scale up to alter food webs and ecosystem functioning. By increasing the temporal and biological complexity of kelp research in this way, we will improve our understanding allowing better predictions. This research is essential for the effective conservation and potential restoration of kelp in our rapidly changing world. Kelp are globally in decline due to human activity. Here, we give an overview of the role of multiple stressors, such as warming and pollution, and their interactions in driving these declines. We argue that further research is needed with greater biological and temporal realism to improve our understanding of the effects of multiple stressors on kelp for their effective conservation.
ISSN:2045-7758
2045-7758
DOI:10.1002/ece3.10203