kelp forests

The sandy beach ecosystem depends on kelp wrack that washes up on local beaches.

UCSB study shows the importance of kelp forests on local beaches

Beth Thornton

UCSB researcher Kyle Emery said giant kelp is an extremely important foundation species for the food web on our sandy beaches.

A UCSB researcher holds a purple sea urchin in a video explaining the university's research on urchins and kelp along the California coast.

Health, Science and Technology

UCSB research explores the impact of urchins gorging on kelp forests along California coast

Avery Elowitt

Kelp forests along the Central and Southern coast are being destroyed by hungry sea urchins, leading UC Santa Barbara doctoral students conduct a study on what this could mean for the marine environment.

Giant kelp in the Santa Barbara Channel is losing nutritional value as sea temperature is rising.

KCBX Top Regional Stories

UCSB researchers find long-term rising sea temperature decreases the nutritional value of giant kelp

Rachel Showalter

The study's lead author called this a "hidden effect" of climate change. The loss of nutrition in giant kelp could have cascading ecological and economic impacts.

Environment and Energy

Meteorologist John Lindsey on how declining sea star population could affect Central Coast

Sophie Lincoln

In a recent article for the SLO Tribune, meteorologist John Lindsey reported that a severe decline in the sea star population has led to a massive die-off…