Effects of Freshwater on Purple Sea Urchin and Bull Kelp Dynamicx at the Mouths of Rivers Along the Mendocino Coast

Presentation Year

2024

College or Department

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Short Description of your Research or Creative Project (700 characters or less)

Urchins are voracious herbivores that mow down kelp forests turning them into urchin barrens. This regime shift from kelp forests to urchin barrens has led to the closer of the red abalone fishery which had an estimated value of $44 million dollars.
In Mendocino CA, bull kelp has been observed persisting at the river mouths in making an interest to local and scientific communities. Urchins are known to not do well with lower salinities possibly leading to this phenomenon.

Permission to Publish Work

Yes

Primary Contact: First Name

Marina

Primary Contact: Last Name

Storey

Primary Contact: Email

mrs205@humboldt.edu

Primary Contact: I am a

Graduate Student

Primary Contact: Phone Number

5103233763