A century of canopy kelp persistence and recovery in the Gulf of Alaska

• DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad149
• Publication Date: 2023-10-13T21:51:03Z
• Authors: Jordan A Hollarsmith; Juliana C Cornett; Emily Evenson; Alex Tugaw
• Keywords: Kelp forest; Marine ecosystem

Abstract Background and Aims Coastal Alaska contains vast kelp habitat that supports diverse marine human communities. Over the past century, North Pacific Ocean has undergone oceanographic ecological regime shifts have potential to influence structure function of ecosystems strongly. However, remoteness complexity glacially carved region precludes regular monitoring efforts would be necessary detect such changes. Methods To begin fill this critical knowledge gap, we drew upon historical modern surveys analyse change in spatial coverage species composition canopy between two time points (1913 early 2000s 2010s). We also incorporated decadal on sea otter range expansion following complete extirpation reintroduction assess recovery extent kelp. Key Results found increases throughout Gulf where there was from both surveys. Kelp Southcentral showed extensive after catastrophic Novarupta volcano. Southeast persistence increase closely matched otters. Observations thermally tolerant increased more than observations cold-adapted Conclusions Contrary trends observed at lower latitudes, forests ring been remarkably stable even despite ecosystem improve monitoring, propose identification sentinel beds for changes these iconic foundational readily.