Abstract
Environmental challenges have been complicating the normal functioning of the marine ecosystem and its diversity, specifically kelp, for many years, and the effect of Marine Protected Areas on them remains unknown. The prevalent explanation for this trend is that the sea urchin overgrazing leads to kelp extinction. Fluctuations in sea urchins’ growth disrupt the balance of marine ecosystems, and the reduction of kelp forests leads to the loss of biodiversity. Therefore, the specific long-term conservation areas of the ocean, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), exist to sustain the marine ecosystem. The database used for the research is Squidle+, which provides a digital collection of images made by the Automated Underwater Vehicle designed by Dr. Ariell Friedman. This tool is used for comparing the presence of kelp in different areas and identifying its percentage, latitude, longitude, and depth. The current research is expected to address the problem of overfishing and prove that MPAs help to sustain biodiversity.
Introduction
Half a century ago, the seaweed forests of Southern California, we’re home to a remarkable number of large fish and invertebrates and were considered the richest ecosystems in the world. Areas with a high density of kelp, covering vast Australian coastlines, were considered the most productive Earth ecosystem (Carnell & Keough, 2019). They sustain the marine environment by providing distinctive habitats for aquatic species. Kelps can influence coastal oceanographic structures and provide many natural system services. What is more, kelp serves as a source of food and as a buffer against stormy waves. Being a natural resource capable of maintaining the marine system, kelp forests need to be thoroughly protected.
Although algae forests are vital for the environment, wherever they grow, they are more energetic than the other structures mentioned above. In other words, they may disappear and return depending on the ocean’s conditions and the population size of their main herbivores. A hotter than typical summer and regular changes inflows that bring fewer additives to kelp forests combine to weaken the kelp and weaken its survival for several long years (Provost et al., 2016). Substantial human actions can wipe out vast areas of kelp by ripping kelp plants from the seafloor.
Massive gatherings of ocean urchins (the most critical herbivore in algal forests) can anticipate the development of algae plants from expansive development sufficient to create woodlands (Provost et al., 2016). The cycle between these so-called “urchin barrens” and well-developed algae forests can be a well-studied miracle in places that are favorable for forests (Caselle et al., 2015). Each of these general changes in the thickness of the kelp forest or total with the region affects the community of spineless creatures and several fish species.
Nonetheless, disturbing fishing practices, coastal litter, and other damages caused by humans, and nature significantly impact the population of kelps. Oceans face multiple menaces caused by overfishing, pollution, and other threats from the outside (Bruno et al., 2018). Not a single waterbody was preserved untouched by a human being. These human-induced actions lead to significant changes to the ocean and its inhabitants’ productivity in producing food, maintaining water quality, and others.
Areas known as the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) exist to protect kelp forests and sustain biodiversity. According to Caselle et al. (2015), “marine protected areas (MPAs) are a commonly implemented approach for conserving biodiversity and managing marine resources” (p. 2). They provide protection and shelter to the ecosystem they hold to prevent it from disasters and sustain proper habitat (Ban et al., 2017). Moreover, they are buffers that serve as protection against hurricanes and other natural phenomena. Many researchers find that MPAs are efficient for increasing the size, number, and density of underwater species within the area’s borders (Ban et al., 2017; Davidson & Dulvy, 2017). As a result, they can boost kelp forests’ recovery to sustain biodiversity.
One of such areas named Batemans Marine Park is located on the NWS south coast and extends to Lake Wallaga. A prominent feature of the Park is the vast expanses of rocky reefs that sustain multiple fish, invertebrates, and kelp forests. In 2019 the authorities increased the number of fishing areas in sanctuary zones of this park. However, allowing fishing in the protected areas is an enormous threat to the unique marine species. The MPAs aim to increase the population size of fish and seaweed while overfishing does not let this happen. Therefore, Batemans Marine Park should protect the rest of its sanctuary zones to avoid marine life extinction.
Thus, given the abovementioned facts concerning kelp forests extinction, the paper aims to investigate how MPAs affect their recovery. It is vital to understand if protected areas sustain forests grow throughout the ages and if there is a necessity of increasing the protection level. This research intends to prove that marine habitats and ocean productivity will be restored with the help of MPAs. The study is innovative due to using new technological developments that allow studying the marine ecosystem more profoundly. Moreover, the research may serve as a solid ground for further investigations concerning kelp forests preservation.
Materials and Methods
The SQUIDLE+, a website that allows viewing and analyzing AUV images, was used to explore areas where kelp grows. One hundred photos taken for the past three years from three Sanctuary Zones (SZ) and three General Use Zones (GUZ) were inspected to determine the density and altitude to collect the data on kelp forests. The R studio was used to compile the ANOVA table. Each area had its percentage of kelp coverage, and the received results were described and compared using the boxplot method.
References
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Bruno, J., Bates, A., Cacciapaglia, C., Pike, E., Amstrup, S., Hooidonk, R., Henson, S., & Aronson, R. (2018). Climate change threatens the world’s marine protected areas. Nature Climate Change, 8, 499–503.
Carnell, P., & Keough, M. (2019). Reconstructing historical marine populations reveals major decline of a kelp forest ecosystem in Australia. Estuaries and Coasts, 42, 765–778.
Caselle, J. E., Rassweiler, A., Hamilton, S. L., & Warner, R. R. (2015). Recovery trajectories of kelp forest animals are rapid yet spatially variable across a network of temperate marine protected areas. Scientific Reports, 5, 1–14. Web.
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Provost, E., Kelaher, B., Dworjanyn, S., Russell, B., Connell, S., Ghedini, G., Gillanders, B., Figueira, W., & Coleman, M. (2016). Climate-driven disparities among ecological interactions threaten kelp forest persistence. Global Change Biology, 23(1), 353–361. Web.