Hobbies And Interests
The Kelp Forest Ecosystem
Kelp forests are unique underwater habitats characterized by forests of giant kelp, which are home to more than a thousand species of marine plants and animals. The giant kelp that provides food and shelter is a variety of brown kelp called Macrocystis pyrifera. It grows from the ocean floor at depths of 100 feet or more. One of the world's fastest-growing plants, it can grow as much as two feet per day. Kelp forests are found in cool waters near coastlines in both hemispheres. The world's best-known kelp forests are located off the coast of southern California.
Symbiosis
Symbiosis is a term that indicates a close or co-dependent relationship between different species, a symbiont and a host. There are three types of symbiosis: mutualism, commensalism and parasitism. In mutual symbiosis, both species benefit from their relationship. In commensalism, the symbiont benefits while the host is unaffected. In parasitism, the symbiont benefits at the expense of the host.
Sea Otters &Sea Urchins
One of the most important relationships in the kelp forest ecosystem is that between the kelp, sea urchins and sea otters. In a healthy kelp forest habitat, sea urchins eat pieces of kelp that fall to the ocean floor and sea otters eat the sea urchins. If the otters were removed from the system, the sea urchins would overexploit the kelp, exploding in population and devastating the kelp that the entire ecosystem depends upon.
Bat Stars and Annelid Worms
Another example of symbiosis in the kelp forest ecosystem exists between bat stars and annelid worms. Bat stars are invertebrates that scavenge plants and other animals from the sea floor. Up to 20 annelid worms may reside in grooves in the star's arms, where they feast on bits of food that the bat star misses. The worms don't have any negative impact on the bat star, so it's an example of commensal symbiosis.