[CINC] Kelp Symposium-UCSB

[paul jr petrich]

Ocean Colleagues,
    Bob Miller presented his study, "Patterns and Fate of Primary Production in Kelp Forests" today at UCSB's Marine Science Institute's Winter Colloquium. His study focused on Kelp ecosystems locally. The points I gathered that seamed pertinent to our interpretation mission were the following:
The NPP, or Net Primary Production, of Kelp  dwarfs the NPP of any other plant ecosystems on earth . NPP is the plant production per a given unit of measure.
The annual blooms of biomass, or NPP, peak during the summers, and is driven by turbidity of the water as well as radiance from sunlight.
There are no large grazers of Kelp except for urchins.
Phytoplankton thrives and blooms when Kelp NPP is highest.
"Suspension Feeder" small sea animals make up 80% of the animals feeding in the Kelp forests.
Hypothesis given: Suspension feeders get most their nutrition at times of blooming phytoplankton. Future study will be directed at suspension feeders selectively feeding on phytoplankton under kelp canopy.
Responding to my layperson's question: Mr. Miller stated he surmises that Gray whales that have been sighted feeding in local Kelp ecosystems most probably were feeding on the isopod depicted on screen, and described as becoming quite abundant in periods of high NPP. This little crustacean looks like a cross between a sow bug and krill. Don't have its specific name. A couple grad students came up to me after the presentation, to confirm their sightings of Gray whales, with calves, apparently feeding in Kelp.  
Thanks to Professor Ken Macdonald for inviting us to this interesting colloquium series!   Paul Petrich
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