Exploring Kelp Forest Dynamics Using Agent-Based Models

Presentation Year

2026

College or Department

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

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

Kelp forests are important ecosystems due to their high primary productivity, organism recruitment, and biogenic coastal defense. With the creation of multiple urchin barrens along the west coast of North America following a Sea Star Wasting Disease (SSWD) outbreak in 2013, kelp ecosystem restoration has become a growing area of ecological research. Predatory sea stars are important top-down predators that regulate urchin populations, and their loss after the SSWD outbreak has allowed urchin populations to flourish. This project applies a generalized agent-based model of kelp forest dynamics that could be developed into an effective simulation for evaluating restoration strategies in urchin barrens. The model includes agents for kelp, Pacific purple sea urchins, and Sunflower sea stars and can simulate the ecosystem under different conditions to guide policy.

Permission to Publish Work

Yes

Presentation File Upload

mathematics-raisl-sela-202239-2x3.pdf (32.53 KB)

Primary Contact: First Name

Sela

Primary Contact: Last Name

Raisl

Primary Contact: Email

sgr36@humboldt.edu

Primary Contact: I am a

Undergraduate Student

Primary Contact: Phone Number

541-801-1278

Indicate File Dimensions

3'x2'