Nancy Caruso- Marine BiologistNancy Caruso- Marine Biologist

Restoring the Kelp Forest Ecosystem of Restoring the Kelp Forest Ecosystem of Orange CountyOrange County-Kelp Restoration-Kelp Restoration-Green Abalone Restoration-Green Abalone Restoration-White Sea Bass Restocking-White Sea Bass Restocking

EcologyEcology What is Ecology?What is Ecology?

EcologyEcology : The study of ecosystems: The study of ecosystems

What is an Ecosystem?What is an Ecosystem?

EcosystemEcosystem : A community of : A community of organisms and their environment organisms and their environment functioning togetherfunctioning together

Give examplesGive examples

What is giant kelp?What is giant kelp?

One of the most important One of the most important ecosystems on the planetecosystems on the planet

80% of the oxygen we breathe comes from the 80% of the oxygen we breathe comes from the oceanocean

Kelp Forest vs. Tree ForestKelp Forest vs. Tree Forest

Photocredit: Dr. Bill Bushing

Kelp grows on rocky reefs in waters Kelp grows on rocky reefs in waters

generally less than eighty feet deepgenerally less than eighty feet deep

Macrocystis pyrifera

It can grow up It can grow up to to 2 feet 2 feet

per per day!day!

Photo credit: Frank O’Donnel

Photo credit: Kevin Lee

Photo credit: Tom Caruso

More than 800 Species Rely on Kelp…More than 800 Species Rely on Kelp…

We are one of themWe are one of them

Photo credit Susy Horowitz

Ever eat any of these?Ever eat any of these? Eclipse Breath StripsEclipse Breath Strips McDonald’s Apple Pies (apple, McDonald’s Apple Pies (apple,

cherry, custard)cherry, custard) Nutrigrain Bars (also in the Nutrigrain Bars (also in the

store brand versions)store brand versions) Quaker Breakfast SquaresQuaker Breakfast Squares Mrs. Field’s Cookies Mrs. Field’s Cookies

(grocery/retail)(grocery/retail) Mrs. Smith’s Whole Frozen Mrs. Smith’s Whole Frozen

Pies (cream pies)Pies (cream pies) Salad Dressings (creamy, Salad Dressings (creamy,

usually, low fat or fat free)usually, low fat or fat free)

Smucker’s Toppings (caramel, Smucker’s Toppings (caramel, butterscotch, etc)butterscotch, etc)

Nabisco SnackwellsNabisco Snackwells Taco Bell Cheese DipTaco Bell Cheese Dip Cup O’ NoodlesCup O’ Noodles Velveeta Pasteurized , process Velveeta Pasteurized , process

cheese productcheese product Cheez Whiz (glass jar)Cheez Whiz (glass jar) Boxed Macaroni and Cheese Boxed Macaroni and Cheese

Products (with a cheese sauce Products (with a cheese sauce pouch)pouch)

Any Spanish Style, Pimento Any Spanish Style, Pimento Stuffed Green OlivesStuffed Green Olives

Frozen Blueberry WafflesFrozen Blueberry Waffles

Sea OtterSea Otter

Photo credit: Tom Ford

Photo credit: Scott Geittler

What is a Food Chain?What is a Food Chain? Food chainFood chain : A series of organisms : A series of organisms

linked together in the order that they linked together in the order that they feed on each other.feed on each other.

Food ChainsFood Chains

Photo credit: Scott Geittler

Giant Black Sea Bass

Assignment…Assignment… PSA’sPSA’s

Animals of the Kelp Animals of the Kelp ForestForest

Sea Urchins

MolluscsMolluscs

Wavy Top Turban SnailWavy Top Turban Snail

Kellet’s WhelkKellet’s Whelk

Gorgonians Gorgonians BrownBrown

BrownBrown

GoldenGolden

CrustaceansCrustaceans

Spiny LobsterSpiny Lobster

Sheep CrabSheep Crab

Photo credit: Scott Geittler

Moon Jelly & Kelp Bass

Photo credit: Diane Witmer

Batstars

Photo credit: Dan Scanderberg

Sea Cucumber

The End