Kelp Forest Ecosystem

Which of these are a keystone species of a kelp forest?

• The kelp

• The sea otter

• The sea urchin

• All 3 are keystone species

Provides support and height to the leaf-like structures of the seaweed.

• Blade

• Holdfast

• Pneumatocyst / bulb / gas bladder

• Stipe

Attaches the seaweed to a rocky surface

• Blade

• Holdfast

• Bulb / gas bladder

• Stipe

Primary photosynthetic structure of the seaweed (where the photosynthesis takes place)

• Blade

• Holdfast

• Bulb / Gas Bladder Pneumatocyst

• Stipe

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

Allows the leaf-structures of the seaweed to float

• Blade

• Holdfast

• Bulb / Gas Bladder / Pneumatocyst

• Stipe

Which of the following factors do NOT limit the growth of kelp forests?

• Salinity

• Light

• Space

• Temperature

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Which layer of the kelp forests consists of blades floating on the ocean's surface?

• canopy

• understory

• algal turf

• Sargasso Sea

Which group of algae contains the larges species of seaweed, including kelp and sargasso?

• red algae

• green algae

• purple algae

• brown algae

Which group of algae contains mostly freshwater species and is most similar to land plants?

• red algae

• green algae

• purple algae

• brown algae

Why must kelp live in deep, calm waters?

• nutrients are more abundant in deep, calm waters than in warm, turbid waters

• the photosynthetic pigments of kelp are more efficient in the depths than in the shallows

• rocky terrain, the preferred substrate of kelp, is only found in deep, calm waters

• the holdfasts are less likely to be ripped off the rocks in calm waters than in turbid waters