As large swaths of Maine’s kelp forests transition into a new state, a study by Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences scientists reveals what’s driving the northward progression of turf algae and the loss of kelp forests — and the valuable ecological functions they provide.
The researchers modeled how higher temperatures, wave action, and prior kelp loss, drive the proliferation of turf algae. That finding underscores the importance of the direct and indirect impacts of ocean warming.
“The silver lining is that we’ve untangled what’s driving change in our coastal reefs, so we can now forecast how these changes will progress up the coast,” Senior Research Scientist Doug Rasher said.
📸: Turf algae (Credit: Shane Farrell).
