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Abstract

Environment

Field Collection and Laboratory Maintenance of Canopy-Forming Giant Kelp to Facilitate Restoration

Published: June 7th, 2024

DOI:

10.3791/66092

1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, 2Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, 3Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, 4Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, 5Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, 6The Nature Conservancy

Abstract

Canopy-forming kelps are essential foundation species, supporting biodiversity and providing ecosystem services valued at more than USD$500 billion annually. The global decline of giant kelp forests due to climate-driven ecological stressors underscores the need for innovative restoration strategies. An emerging restoration technique known as 'green gravel' aims to seed young kelps over large areas without extensive underwater labor and represents a promising restoration tool due to cost-effectiveness and scalability. This video article illustrates a protocol and tools for culturing giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera. It also provides a resource for further studies to address the successes and limitations of this method in field settings. We outline field and laboratory-based methods for collecting reproductive tissue, sporulating, inoculating, rearing, maintaining, and monitoring substrates seeded with early life stages using the 'green gravel' technique. The protocol simplifies and centralizes current restoration practices in this field to support researchers, managers, and stakeholders in meeting kelp conservation objectives.

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Keywords Kelp

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