Global impacts of climate change on kelp forest ecosystems

Nearly one quarter of the world’s coastlines are dominated by the highly productive brown algae we know as kelp. Kelps serve a myriad of roles for humans – from providing food to sheltering shorelines from stormy waves. The startling diversity of life that dwells in these kelp forests provides joy to avid divers, fishers, and diners around the planet. But how will these kelp forests fare in the face of climate change? To answer this question, we are bringing together a team of international scientists who have studied these systems for decades. With data from the last century of surveys, experiments, and satellite measurements in hand, we will create a set of predictions as to how kelp forests will change in the future. These predictions will help guide the future study of kelp forests in a changing ocean.