2. Kelp Forests… Are large masses made up of Macroalgae(kelp) Are constituted of brown kelp of the order Laminariales

3. Flora Kelp forests themselves are substantiated by brown macroalgae of the order Laminariales. Kelp forests are most commonly formed by members of the genus Macrocystis(giant kelp). As in all thriving oceanic epipelagic enviroments, phytoplankton persist.

4. Fauna Sea urchins, regular predators of Kelp that exist in most Kelp Forests, of one species or another. Likewise, Sea stars exist as moderate predators of Sea Urchins and are commonly found within customaries of sea urchins. The top predator of a kelp forest is likely either a larger fish or a aquatic mammal such as a Sea otter. Other creatures, such as clams, tunicates, sponges and octopi, may auxilarate in certain kelp forest sub- enviroments.

5. Trophic Process Top-down trophic process, meaning that predators at the top limit lower biomass numbers, not the amount of vegetation available limiting upper biomass levels.

6. Trophic Diagram

7. At the top of the diagram is the Sheepshead(A fish) Starfish are secondary consumers, that feed off of sea urchins and other invertebrate. Sea urchins are primary consumers; without predatory regulation they would ravage the producer organism population. Various species of kelp constitute the “bottom-rung” producers tier.

8. Ecological Importance Similarly to land-based forests, kelp forests provide a habitat and also serves as a physical substrate. Dislodged drift kelp influences much of the behavior of herbivorous grazing creatures.