Aaron Kreag

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Introduction

• Aaron Kreag
• Senior, Geography Major

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Ecosystems

• What is an ecosystem?
• A dynamic complex of plant, animal, and
  micro-organism communities and the non-living
  environment interacting as a functional unit.
• Humans are an integral part of ecosystems
• They vary in size
• Source Millenium Ecosystem Assessment, 2003

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Kelp Forests

• One of the most diverse and important ecosystems
  in the world
• Home (and food source) to a variety of different
  animals
• Even affects areas far away from origination
• Prevents coastal erosion
• Direct human impacts
• Recreation, food, education

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Kelp

• Two main types of Kelp
• Bull Kelp
• Giant Kelp
• Giant Kelp plays a larger role in the ecosystem
• All kelp seems to grow best between 40 -60
  degrees north and south latitude. Cape Horn
  region is near 55 degrees South Latitude.
• This is due to the decrease of light at the
  higher latitudes and the decrease of nutrients,
  warmer water, and poor soil at the lower
  latitudes.
• Can grow 1 foot a day.

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Giant Kelp
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Sea Otter

• Found at various locations around the world
• Lives in coastal waters and kelp forests are its
  preferred habitat
• Sea Urchin is a major source of food
• Steady population decline globally, however the
  population has maintained in the Monterey, CA
  region.
• Due to conservation efforts of Universities and
  NGOs

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Sea Otter

• Global decline in population due to
• Over-fishing of coastal areas
• Has now become part of the killer whale meal plan
  due to a decrease in the normal prey
• I have also been told that sea otters are dying
  due to a parasitic infection of the brain and is
  being studied at this time. Source Dr. Mark
  Carr, Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,
  Long Marine Laboratory, University of California
  at Santa Cruz

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Sea Otter

• Is protected by State and Federal Law.

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Sea Urchin

• Is a Herbivore, aggressively eats (destroys) Kelp
  Forests globally.
• Currently there are no population concerns for
  the urchin.
• Is harvested for commercial purposes and this has
  led to an increase of some kelp forests.
• However in some cases the kelp forest is devoid
  of sea otters due to the loss in food source.

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Sea Urchin
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The Main Point

• Without the kelp, the kelp forest ecosystem would
  be destroyed.
• Without the urchin as a food source, the sea
  otter could not sustain life.
• Without the sea otter, the urchin population
  would skyrocket and cause deforestation.

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Summary

• There is a delicate balance between all of the
  living organisms within the ecosystem. One can
  easily surmise that all efforts should be made at
  sustaining and maintaining the environment.

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Kelp Forests Sea Otter Ecosystem

• Any Questions?

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Thank yougoodbye