Kelp

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Kelp

Kelp on rocky beach in Freycinet, Tasmania

Scientific classification Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Chromalveolata Heterokontophyta Phaeophyceae Laminariales

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Families 'kkesiphycaceae 'lariaceae Chordaceae Costariaceae (aminariaceae (essoniaceae

Pseudochordaceae Kelps are large sea)eeds *algae+ belonging to the bro)n algae *Phaeophyceae+ in the order Laminariales, There are about -$ different genera,%citation needed& Kelps gro) in under)ater .forests. *kelp forests+ in shallo) oceans, The organisms re/uire nutrient0rich )ater )ith temperatures bet)een 1 to "2 degree celsius, They are kno)n for their high gro)th rate 3 the genera Macrocystis and Nereocystis can gro) as fast as half a metre a day, ultimately reaching -$ to 4$ m,%5& Through the "#th century, the )ord .kelp. )as closely associated )ith sea)eeds that could be burned to obtain soda ash *primarily sodium carbonate+, The sea)eeds used included species from both the orders (aminariales and Fucales, The )ord .kelp. )as also used directly to refer to these processed ashes,%-&

Contents [edit] Morphology

' sample portion of a typical giant kelp thallus, 6n most kelp, the thallus *or body+ consists of flat or leaf0like structures kno)n as blades, 7lades originate from elongated stem0like structures, the stipes, The holdfast, a root0like structure, anchors the kelp to the substrate of the ocean, 8as0filled bladders *pneumatocysts+ form at the base of blades of 'merican species, such as Nereocystis lueteana *!ert, 9 Post 9 :upr,+%5& and keep the kelp blades close to the surface, holding up the blades by the gas they contain,

Kelp (raw)
Nutritional alue per !"" g (#$% o&)

'nergy Car(ohydrates ) Sugars ) *ietary fi(er Fat +rotein Thiamine *=it, 7"+ :iboflavin *=it, 75+ ?iacin *=it, 7-+ Pantothenic acid *7@+ =itamin 71 Folate *=it, 7#+ =itamin C Calcium 6ron !agnesium Phosphorus Potassium

"4$ k; *2- kcal+ #,1 g $,1 g ",- g $,1 g ",< g $," mg *4>+ $,5 mg *"->+ $,@ mg *->+ $,1 mg *"5>+ $,$ mg *$>+ "4$ Ag *2@>+ -,$ mg *@>+ "14,$ mg *"<>+ 5,4 mg *55>+ "5",$ mg *-->+ 25,$ mg *1>+ 4# mg *5>+

Bodium Cinc

5-- mg *"$>+ ",5 mg *"5>+

Percentages are relative to DB recommendations for adults,

Bource: DBE' ?utrient database

[edit] ,rowth and reproduction

8ro)th occurs at the base of the meristem, )here the blades and stipe meet, 8ro)th may be limited by graFing, Bea urchins, for eGample, can reduce entire areas to urchin barrens, The kelp life cycle involves a diploid sporophyte and haploid gametophyte stage, The haploid phase begins )hen the mature organism releases many spores, )hich then germinate to become male or female gametophytes, BeGual reproduction then results in the beginning of the diploid sporophyte stage, )hich )ill develop into a mature individual, The parenchymatous thalli are generally covered )ith a mucliage layer, rather than cuticle,%2&:551

[edit] Commercial uses

'laskan beach kelp 8iant kelp can be harvested fairly easily because of its surface canopy and gro)th habit of staying in deeper )ater, 7ongo kelp ash is rich in iodine and alkali, 6n great amount, kelp ash can be used in soap and glass production, Dntil the (eblanc process )as commercialiFed in the early "#th century, burning of kelp in Bcotland )as one of the principal industrial sources of soda ash *predominantly sodium carbonate+,%@& 'lginate, a kelp0derived carbohydrate, is used to thicken products such as ice cream, Helly, salad dressing, and toothpaste, as )ell as an ingredient in eGotic dog food and in manufactured goods%citation needed&, 'lginate po)der is also used fre/uently in general dentistry and orthodontics for making impressions of the upper and lo)er arches, These impressions are subse/uently poured up in stone and the stone models are used in diagnosis and treatment %1&

Kelp is also used fre/uently in sea)eed fertiliFer, especially in the Channel 6slands, )here it is kno)n as vraic, Kombu *Saccharina japonica and others+, several Pacific species of kelp, is a very important ingredient in ;apanese cuisine, Kombu is used to flavor broths and ste)s *especially dashi+, as a savory garnish *tororo konbu+ for rice and other dishes, as a vegetable, and a primary ingredient in popular snacks *such as tsukudani+, Transparent sheets of kelp *oboro konbu+ are used as an edible decorative )rapping for rice and other foods,%<& Kombu can be used to soften beans during cooking, and to help convert indigestible sugars and thus reduce flatulence,%4& 7ecause of its high concentration of iodine, bro)n kelp *(aminaria+ has been used to treat goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland caused by a lack of iodine, since medieval times,%#& 6n 5$"$ a group of researchers in the Dniversity of ?e)castle found that a fibrous material called alginate in sea kelp )as better at preventing fat absorption than most over0the0counter slimming treatments in laboratory trials, 's a food additive it may be used to reduce fat absorption and thus obesity,%"$&

[edit] -s a possi(le renewa(le energy source

See also: Biomass energy, Algae fuel Kelp has a high rate of gro)th and its decay is /uite efficient in yielding methane, as )ell as sugars that can be converted to ethanol, 6t has been proposed that large open0ocean kelp farms could serve as a source of rene)able energy,%""& Dnlike some biofuels such as corn ethanol, kelp energy avoids .food vs fuel. issues and does not re/uire irrigation,

[edit] Kelp in history and culture

Euring the Highland Clearances, many Bcottish Highlanders )ere moved off their crofts, and )ent to industries such as fishing and kelping *producing soda ash from the ashes of kelp+, 't least until the "45$s, )hen there )ere steep falls in the price of kelp, landlords )anted to create pools of cheap or virtually free labour, supplied by families subsisting in ne) crofting to)nships, Kelp collection and processing )as a very profitable )ay of using this labour, and landlords petitioned successfully for legislation designed to stop emigration, 7ut the economic collapse of the kelp industry in northern Bcotland led to further emigration, especially to ?orth 'merica, ?atives of the Falkland 6slands are sometimes nicknamed .Kelpers.,%"5&%"-& The name is primarily applied by outsiders rather than the natives themselves,

[edit] Conser ation

verfishing nearshore ecosystems leads to the degradation of kelp forests, Herbivores are released from their usual population regulation, leading to over0graFing of kelp and other algae, This can /uickly result in barren landscapes )here only a small number of species can thrive,
%citation needed&

[edit] ,allery

8iant kelp in the !onterey 7ay '/uarium,

Kelp

Bcuba diver in kelp forest

7lue :ockfish in kelp forest

'nemone and seastar in kelp forest

'n under)ater shot of a Kelp forest,

' Kelp forest,

' fish s)imming in a Kelp Forest as seen at the !onterey 7ay '/uarium,

' vie) of the Kelp Forest IGhibit at the !onterey 7ay '/uarium from the upstairs level,

[edit] Commercial .elp production in China

(aminaria Haponica, the important commercial sea)eed, )as first introduced into China in the late "#5$s from Hokkaido, ;apan, Commercial production of kelp harvested from its natural

habitat took place in ;apan for over a century, Jet mariculture of this algae on a very large commercial scale )as realiFed in China only in the "#@$s, 7et)een the "#@$s and the "#4$s kelp production in China increased from about 1$ to over 5@$,$$$ dry )eight metric tons annually, making China the largest producer of (aminaria,

[edit] +rominent species

7ull0head kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana, a north)estern 'merican species, Dsed by coastal indigenous peoples to create fishing nets, 8iant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, the largest sea)eed, Found in the Pacific coast of ?orth 'merica and Bouth 'merica, Kombu, Laminaria japonica and others, several edible species of kelp found in ;apan,

Bpecies of Laminaria in the 7ritish 6slesK

Laminaria digitata *Hudson+ ;,=, (amourouG * ar)eedK Tangle+ Laminaria hyperborea *8unnerus+ Foslie *Curvie+ Laminaria ochroleuca 7achelot de la Pylaie Laminaria saccharina *(innaeus+ ;,=,(amourouG *sea beltK sugar kelpK sugar)ack+

Bpecies of Laminaria )orld)ide, listing of species at 'lgae7ase:%"2&

Laminaria agardhii *?I, 'merica+ Laminaria angustata *;apan+ Laminaria bongardina Postels et :uprecht *7ering Bea to California+ Laminaria cuneifolia *?I, 'merica+ Laminaria dentigera Klellm, *California 0 'merica+ Laminaria digitata *?I, 'merica+ Laminaria ephemera Betchell *Bitka, 'laska, to !onterey County, California 0 'merica+ Laminaria farlo ii Betchell *Banta CruF, California, to 7aHa California 0 'merica+ Laminaria groenlandica *?I, 'merica+ Laminaria japonica *;apan+, synonym of Saccharina japonica Laminaria longicruris *?I, 'merica+ Laminaria nigripes *?I, 'merica+ Laminaria ontermedia *?I, 'merica+

Laminaria pallida 8reville eG ;, 'gardh *Bouth 'frica+ Laminaria platymeris *?I, 'merica+ Laminaria saccharina *(innaeus+ (amourouG *'leutian 6slands, 'laska to southern California 'merica+ Laminaria setchellii Bilva *'leutian 6slands, 'laska to 7aHa California 'merica+ Laminaria sinclairii *Harvey eG Hooker f, eG Harvey+ Farlo), 'nderson et Iaton *Hope 6sland, 7ritish Columbia to (os 'ngeles, California 0 'merica+ Laminaria solidungula *?I, 'merica+ Laminaria stenophylla *?I, 'merica+

ther species in the (aminariales that may be considered as kelp

Alaria marginata Post, 9 :upr, *'laska and California 0 'merica !ostaria costata *C,'g,+ Baunders ;apanK 'laska, California 0 'merica+ "urvillea antarctica *?e) Cealand, Bouth 'merica, and 'ustralia+ "urvillea illana *?e) Cealand+ "urvillaea potatorum *(abillardiLre+ 'reschoug *TasmaniaK 'ustralia+ #cklonia brevipes ;, 'gardh *'ustraliaK ?e) Cealand+ #cklonia ma$ima * sbeck+ Papenfuss *Bouth 'frica+ #cklonia radiata *C,'gardh+ ;, 'gardh *'ustraliaK TasmaniaK ?e) CealandK Bouth 'frica+ #isena arborea 'resch, *=ancouver 6sland, 7ritish Columbia, !ontrey, Banta Catalina 6sland, California 0 'merica+ #gregia men%iesii *Turn,+ 'resch, &edophyllum sessile '!(Ag() Setch 'Alaska, !alifornia * America) Macrocystis angustifolia 7ory *'ustraliaK Tasmania and Bouth 'frica+ +leurophycus gardneri Betch, 9 Baund, *'laska, California 0 'merica+ +terygophora californica :upr, *=ancouver 6sland, 7ritish Columbia to 7ahia del :opsario, 7aHa California and California 0 'merica+ Saccharina japonica *;apan+

[edit] /nteractions

Bome animals are named after the kelp, either because they inhabit the same habitat as kelp or because they feed on kelp, These include:

?orthern kelp crab *+ugettia producta+ and graceful kelp crab *+ugettia gracilis+, Pacific coast of ?orth 'merica, Kelpfish *blenny+ *e,g,, &eterosticbus rostratus, genus ,ibbonsia+, Pacific coast of ?orth 'merica, Kelp goose *kelp hen+ *!hloephaga hybrida+, Bouth 'merica and the Falkland 6slands Kelp pigeon *sheathbill+ *!hionis alba and !hionis minor+, 'ntarctic

.elp0 any of numerous large coastal sea)eeds gro)ing in colder seas and belonging to the order (aminariales *about -$ genera+ of bro)n algae, Dntil early in the "#th century the ash of such sea)eeds )as an important source of potash and iodine, 8iant kelps, of the genus Macrocystis, are rich in minerals and produce algin, a compleG carbohydrate *polysaccharide+ useful in various industrial processes, including tire manufacture, 'lgin is added to ice cream before freeFing to prevent ice crystalliFation and is also used as a suspending and emulsifying agent in other food products, Laminaria, a large bro)n sea)eed *" to - metres %-,- to #,4 feet& long+ abundant along the Pacific and 'tlantic coasts, has a stipe that superficially resembles the stem of land plants, 8ro)th extension occurs at the meristematic region bet)een the stipe *)hich is perennial+ and the blade *)hich is shed annually+, Macrocystis, the largest kno)n kelp, up to 1@ metres *5"@ feet+ long, is limited in distribution because it reproduces only at temperatures belo) "4M5$ NC, The complicated plant body, in some )ays similar in appearance to that of higher plants, has a large rootlike holdfast for attachment to the ocean floor, a stemlike stipe for the internal transport of organic material, and long branching stalks )ith blades that stay afloat by means of gas bladders, Nereocystis, an annual kelp that gro)s primarily in deep )aters and rapid tide)ays, can attain lengths up to 2$ metres *"-$ feet+, 6nternally the plant structure is similar to MacrocystiseGternally the stalk is tough and )hiplike, terminating in a single large bladder containing up to "$ percent of carbon monoGide, The long leafy outgro)ths from the stalk carry out photosynthesis and reproduction,