The Kelp Ecosystem Ecology Networkhttp://bit.ly/keen-itrs

Thomas Wernberg

Sean ConnellMark Novak John Grabowski

Bob Steneck

Jon Witman

Jen Dijskstra

Ed Parnell

Ken Dunton

Dan Reed

Kira Krumhansl

Dan Okamoto

Alison Haupt

Mike BurrowsPippa Moore

John Griffin

Nick Sheers

Isabel Sousa Pinto

Mike Burrows

Chris HepburnDan Smale

Massa Nakaoka

Jane Watson

Anne Salomon

Guillermo Torres-Moye

Gabriela Montaño-Moctezuma

Nessa O'Connor

Alejandro Perez-Matus Matt Edwards

Mike Graham

Diana Stellar

Fiorenza Micheli

Scott Hamilton

Jenn Caselle

Brenda Konar

Kyle Cavanaugh

Ken Dunton

Graham Edgar

Neville Barrett

Christie MaggsLadd Johnson

Kjell Magnus NorderhaugNova Miezkowska

AND MANY OTHERS

Not connected yet?• This is an open network – all

can join

• http://kelpecosystems.org

• Google Group: kelpecosystems

Purpose of today: Walk out of here & get running

Everything is on the table

Agenda• Network Goal• Introductions• Crowdsourcing Kelp Forest Research• Manipulation• Surveys• Infrastructure & Leadership Needs• The Way Forward

Network Goal

To understand the impact of global change on the world's kelp forests

IPCC AR5 Physical Basis Summary for Policy Makers

(°C Change from 1901-2012)

Specific Aims• Unifying & finding past kelp forest

ecology datasets for synthesis of climate influences

• Climate change kelp forest experiment(s) along thermal gradients

• Global standardized kelp forest monitoring along temperature gradients

Who are We?

Agenda• Network Goal• Introductions• Crowdsourcing Kelp Forest

Research• Manipulation• Surveys• Infrastructure & Leadership Needs• The Way Forward

Where are we getting data for Synthesis?

Synthetic Efforts• Global interaction web models• Phase shift models & Synthesis• Meta-analysis of kelp removal effects on

fish around the globe• Global kelp biogeography synthesis• Satellite mapping of canopy forming kelps

over 30 years• Analysis of all extant (and found) kelp time

series we could find

Conceptual Model

Temperature hotcold

Kelp

Rem

aini

ng

afte

r Lo

cal

Stre

ssor

(s) Is this

general?

Community Conceptual Model

Temperature hotcold

Com

mun

ity

Stru

ctur

e af

ter

Loca

l Str

esso

r(s) ?

Problems with Synthesis• Studies not designed for

hypothesized model• Excessive variation in methodology• Lack of proper regional variation in

some climatic variables• Excessive variation in other biotic

and abiotic variation

What if each of these sites had 1 experimental plot?

Fouling Communities are GAME

http://www.geomar.de/en/research/fb3/fb3-eoe/fb3-eoe-b/game/

A ZEN Philosophy

30cm

30cm

PVC anchor poles

Nutrient Diffuser

Carbaryl Block

Duffy et al. In Review, Whalen et al. 2013

Bootstrapping a Network: NutNet

Borer et al. 2013 Methods in Ecology & Evolution

Creating an Experimental Network

• Develop clear scientific goals and questions• Implement identical treatments and sampling – Use a simple, inexpensive design– Use a modular design– Use a flexible design with room for

additional studies• Start with a critical mass. • Develop clear ground rules for participation• Ensure clear benefits for participating

scientists• Plan for data management

Borer et al. 2013 Methods in Ecology & Evolution

Effort v. Reward

Individual EffortRew

ard

(gen

eral

ity, d

ata,

pub

s, e

tc.)

Lone scientist Sampling whole region

Lone scientist Travelling the world

Lone scientist at 1 site

Many scientists at 1 site each globally distributed

What does it mean to be part of KEEN?

• Implement 1 protocol (survey or experiment) at 1 site at minimum

• Share data with network

• Receive credit for data contributed

• Receive co-authorship on products

• Access to network of collaborators for future work

Many Hands, Light Work, Big Reward

• 1 Site of 1 Protocol per Team equals a *LOT* of sites if many participate over time

• Collaborations form as we all work with common data

• Collaborative add-on projects naturally result, and increase future funding

• BONs becoming more prevalent

Agenda• Network Goal• Introductions• Crowdsourcing Kelp Forest Research• Manipulation• Surveys• Infrastructure & Leadership Needs• The Way Forward

Background• If a local disturbance removes kelp,

will it recover?• Higher temperatures appear to affect

reproduction and juvenile stages across taxa.

• Hence, recovery from local disturbance should decrease as kelps reach thermal limits.

Exploiting Gradients

Alternate Hypotheses

hotcold hotcold

hotcold

Kelp

Rec

over

y fr

om

Rem

oval

Site Temperature Relative to Kelp Thermal Limit

hotcold

Impact of Warming on Recovery Local Acclimation

Thermal Stress Region Specific Variation

Current Plan• Many sites along a thermal gradient

• 3 controls, 1 removal per site (finalized at ITRS)

• 8m radius removal during time of disturbance

• Sample central 4m for kelps, sessile species, mobile demersal species

• Resample during peak growing season

Standardizing Conditions• Relatively low-moderate wave exposure• Site has kelp!!• Minimal urchin presence• Manipulation at or just before natural

period of high disturbance• Reserves where possible? (nixed at ITRS)• 5-12m, depending on local kelp biology

10 1

47

11 12

2

3

56

8

98m radius

1mN

Points for Discussion• Tiered experiment–Must clear and count kelp– Other measurements optional?

• Replication – many levels v. site-level replication

• Others?

Add-ons?• Wave exposure• Additional sensors• Recruitment collection• Assessing other site

characteristics• Vary size of removals• Etc.

Agenda• Network Goal• Introductions• Crowdsourcing Kelp Forest Research• Manipulation• Surveys• Infrastructure & Leadership Needs• The Way Forward

Objectives• Look across wider range of variability

of environmental covariates: Wave exposure

• Ask how whole communities are affected

Kevin Lee

Hypotheses

1) Temperature modifies wave effects 2) Kelp removal influences community structure3) Temperature and waves affect community structure

CommunityStructure

Temperature*WaveInteraction

WaveDisturbance

Kelp Abundance

TemperatureRelative to KelpThermal Limit

Kelp inPrev. Year

2

1

3 3

Sampling

• 40m transect, n=4/site• Combination of techniques for

different species• Width of fish transects vary regionally

Thanks SBC LTER, NZ MPA Sampling, REEF Project, Tasmanian MPA monitoring, PISCO

But I HAVE a Sampling Program…

• What would you need to make the data compatible?

• Add a quad or two, or only give us half of the data – no problem!

Standardization• Year 0 = on a rocky reef that is not

an urchin barren

• Transects placed in stratified random manner annually (unless you are already working off permanent ones)

• Sampling at peak growth/abundance season (typically mid-summer)

Points for Discussion• Replication – n=4/site?

• 1 site/group enough?

• Tiered observations?– Kelp, urchins, & sessile cover/abundance required– Temperature loggers required– Which others are mandatory?– Other sensors to think about (must be cheap!)

• Others?

Add-ons• Seasonal sampling• Gradients of urchin abundance• MPAs• Other stressors (nutrients, urbanization)• Epiphytes and Epibionts• Other measures of community function

(e.g., grazing pressure)

Agenda• Network Goal• Introductions• Crowdsourcing Kelp Forest Research• Manipulation• Surveys• Infrastructure & Leadership Needs• The Way Forward

Data InfrastructureData collected

in the field in standardized manner

Data enteredwith standardized format

Data curatedat central archive

Member "Packet"• All the methods, protocols,

equipment needs• All data sheets provided for a

given region• Visual ID guide for a region• Standard data entry forms

Thank you, SBC LTER!

Data Sharing• Data open within network– Fully open after 1st publication

• Observational data open outside of network (with collaboration invited)• Individual scholar observational

data citation?• Collaboration instead of competition

Authorship• For first publication, data

contribution = authorship• For subsequent contributions,

request collaboration within network, but collaboration = more than just data

• All data sets use archive with DOI– Each dataset by group individually citable

http://goo.gl/ObpOz6

Community Broader Impacts

• Starting with Zooniverse

• Kelp Forest Ecology Blog– If everyone writes even once every other

month, this will be huge

• Bi-Monthly Science Hangouts– Archived, can be used for classes, etc.

Regional Co-ordination• Gulf of Maine: Jarrett Byrnes• Eastern Canada: Pat Gagnon• W. Australia & S. Africa: Thomas Wernberg• Alaska/Arctic: Brenda Konar• Western S. America: Alejandro Perez-Matus• New Zealand: Nick Shears (open to more)• Southern CA/Baja: Matt Edwards• Central CA – Pacific Northwest: Alison Haupt• Eastern/South Australia: Adriana Vergés• European Coast: ? (Thomas for Now)• UK/Ireland: Pippa Moore• Scandinavia: ?

Agenda• Network Goal• Introductions• Crowdsourcing Kelp Forest Research• Manipulation• Surveys• Infrastructure & Leadership Needs• The Way Forward

1 site. 1 method. From everybody. In the next 1-2 years.

Support & Activities to Date

• NCEAS working group• Zooniverse Project• Nick Shear's Grad Student• Manipulations & Surveys in Gulf

of Maine• Others?

Reviews of NSF Proposal1. Preliminary Data Lacking

2. Need to consider acclimation

3. Experiment: n=1 with many sites versus n>3 with fewer sites

Basically, want proof that this is already happening & will work

Network funding

Regional Global

The Plan Going Forward• Regional leadership to build packets &

co-ordinate regional researchers

• 1 site. From everybody. In the next 1-2 years.

• Funding quest…– Add this to your broader

impacts/justification!