Dr Eli Rinde1, Dr Hartvig Christie, Dr Camilla W. Fagerli, Dr Torstein Pedersen
1Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway
Some of the globally important marine regime shifts are those of kelp forests to sea urchin barrens or to turf algal communities. Recovery of barrens and turf communities to kelp forest imply a significant change in the three-dimensional structure of the ecosystem, but how the rebuilding of the kelp ecosystem structure and functioning takes place in time and space when the driver(s) of the shift are sufficiently reduced, are to our knowledge under-examined. Important features of this rebuilding include the pace and order of re-establishment of species diversity and of associated functions in the system. The naturally recovery of kelp (Saccharina latissima) in Norway (63-68˚N) due to a large-scale decline in sea urchin densities, provide an excellent opportunity to study this process. Here we present how species and functional diversity, as well as the trophic organization and complexity develop from urchin barren to recovered S. latissima kelp forest, including invertebrate macrofauna and fish communities. Having baseline data for the structure and function of adjacent pristine kelp systems, we will also present similarities and differences between the pristine system and the system in process of recovery.
Presentation Slides – Eli Rinde
Biography:
Eli Rinde is a marine biologist and works as a senior researcher at Norwegian Institute for Water Research. She loves exploring the blue forests by diving and snorkling and has more than 30 years of experience from ecological studies of kelp forests and seagrass beds. Main activities include mapping of their distribution and ecological state, as well as through field experiments investigating the effects of climate change and other human impact on their distribution, state and interactions with key species.
