Fraser Brough1
1Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, UK
Kelp forests are distributed along around 25% of the global coastline and represent crucial marine ecosystems playing a pivotal role in supporting biodiversity and maintaining ecological processes. In both the subtidal and low intertidal environments, kelp serve as foundation species creating structurally complex habitats offering refuge and sustenance for diverse marine life, from invertebrates to commercially- important fish species, sea birds and mammals. These biogenic habitats are often colonised by epiphytes which in turn serve as a secondary foundation species further increasing biodiversity through a facilitation cascade.
In the UK, the kelp Laminaria hyperborea supports numerous red algae epiphytes growing on its stipe and the highly diverse and abundant stipe- associated faunal communities are well documented across the region. L. hyperborea is a cold-water species and as ocean temperatures increase, warm-water adapted species such as Laminaria ochroleuca have become increasingly competitive and abundant. Although providing a seemingly similar primary habitat, the stipes of L. ochroleuca do not support the same richness and biomass of secondary foundation species as L. hyperborea stipes. Previous work has highlighted the importance of different habitat architecture for the attraction of kelp fauna and with continued climate change leading to range shifts in kelp species it is vital to understand how faunal diversity and abundance may be impacted due to the breakdown of a facilitation cascade.
Here we present results from a series of field surveys at three sites in South West England (UK) and ex situ incubation experiments which allow us to quantify and compare the structure (i.e. community composition) and functioning (i.e. net primary production) of stipe assemblages associated with both warm-adapted and cold-adapted kelp species.
Biography
Fraser works in the Benthic Ecosystem and Environmental Change research group, led by Dr. Dan Smale, at the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. He studies the structure and functioning of kelp forests through a combination of field surveys and laboratory experiments. Fraser also collaborates with local aquaculture industry partners, focusing on the development of seaweed farming in the UK.