A project funded by Genome BC is filling information gaps for the conservation and management of kelp forests in British Columbia, local experts report.
The project, dubbed KelpGen, was launched to help researchers better understand the populations and attributes of two keystone kelp species: bull kelp and giant kelp.
These kelp are part of ecosystems several thousand years old but may face adversity amid potential shifts in climate.
Through Project KelpGen, researchers from the University of Victoria, the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, and the Kelp Rescue Initiative have gathered genetic information on these kelp species.
The evidence, they posit, can be used to guide conservationists, policymakers, and fishery and aquaculture practitioners toward more efficient and sustainable management of local kelp forests, according to Dr. Gregory Owens and Dr. Jordan Bemmels from the University of Victoria.
“Some populations have the genetic composition to respond to future warming events, while others don’t,” Owens says. “Genetic information can tell us which populations to source restoration seeds from, and which areas need the most support, so we know where to focus conservation efforts.”
Bemmels also noted differences in kelp genetic diversity levels.
“It suggests we can come up with optimal strategies for sourcing and culturing kelp in the lab to ensure that out-planted populations have the ability to thrive,” suggested Bemmels.
Specifically, the team identified six genetic clusters in bull kelp and seven in giant kelp, all in distinct geographic regions.
Dr. Sean Rogers, Executive Director of the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, and Dr. Jasmin Schuster from the Kelp Rescue Initiative, were also involved in the project.
“There are major knowledge gaps when it comes to kelp genetics,” says Schuster.
Restoration “isn’t just about replacing what’s lost,” however.
“We need to rebuild kelp forests that can thrive in tomorrow’s oceans,” Schuster says.
While there is plenty more work left to do, there is an undeniable feeling of progress for the team following the completion of the KelpGen project.
“Before this project, we knew almost nothing about kelp genomics in BC,” admitted Owens.
Now, “we can look at the genetic makeup of the populations here and ask, how are they going to do in 2050 or 2100, with the changing climate?”
In 2023, kelp forests worldwide were estimated to generate an average of US$500 billion annually.
Genome BC has recently funded similar projects.
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