Abstract
Sub-Antarctic giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forests have remained relatively wild and far from anthropogenic pressures. However, they are increasingly exposed to multiple stressors that might affect kelp forest persistence. The urban impact of a coastal city, Ushuaia (54° S 68° W), in the Beagle Channel, Argentina, on giant kelp forest environments was evaluated in this study and implications on morphological variability were explored. Seasonal samplings were conducted from 2019 to 2021 in two contrasting sites: an urban site directly exposed to coastal discharges, and a non-urban site. Our results indicate that the combination of coastal discharges, kelp canopy and low wave exposure increases light attenuation inside kelp forests, promoting coastal darkening. Additionally, and based on the present results, we present the first record of algal turf in the Beagle Channel. We further propose the Kelp Structure Index to describe the effect of environmental conditions on kelp structure, which highlights an increased blade surface in sites with urban impacts. These results suggest that giant kelp shows high plasticity in morphological traits under varying environmental conditions, particularly in environments exposed to coastal darkening effects. However, the presence of turf indicates that urban pressures might be severely limiting kelp forest health.
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Data availability
All data were stored at https://ri.conicet.gov.ar/handle/11336/190900, in the CONICET repository and are available upon request.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Adalberto Ferlito and Ricardo Samaniego (Náutica CADIC) for logistical support. We acknowledge the SMN, the SHN and SIAG-CADIC for providing a meteorological database. We are grateful to Juan Alberti and Alicia Boraso for advice on statistical analyses. We would like to thank two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions, and Sandra V. Pereda who certainly improved the manuscript.
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This research was funded by the Argentinean National Science Council (CONICET). JK is supported by a CONICET fellowship for her PhD. The project was supported by funding to IRS as part of CONICET-PUE 2016 Res D. 2555/16, from ANPCyT PICT-2017-2731 and CONICET PIBAA-1136 to MB, from ANPCyT PICT-2021-I-A-00501 to MLQ, and from ANID-Chile (FONDECYT 1221161), CeBiB (FB-0001) and Núcleo Milenio MASH (NCN2021_033) to AHB.
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JK: Conceptualization, Field work, Sample processing, Formal Analysis and Investigation, Writing-Original Draft Preparation; MB: Field work, Sample processing, Writing—Review and Editing, Funding acquisition; IRS: Conceptualization, Writing—Review and Editing, Supervision, Funding acquisition; SD: Sample processing, Writing—Review and Editing; MR: Field work; AHB: Conceptualization, Writing—Review and editing; MLQ: Conceptualization, Writing—Review and Editing, Supervision, Funding acquisition.
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The fieldwork was conducted with permission from Tierra del Fuego Province (Environment Secretariat/Secretaría de Ambiente, Res. N°345). All applicable international, national and institutional guidelines for sampling, care and experimental use of organisms for the study have been followed.
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Kaminsky, J., Bagur, M., Schloss, I.R. et al. Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) morphological and reproductive strategies in two contrasting sub-Antarctic forests. Mar Biol 171, 9 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-023-04341-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-023-04341-x