Light limitation and water velocity modify the impacts of simulated marine heatwaves on juvenile giant kelp.

ABSTRACT: Coastal regions are complex habitats, where multiple natural and anthropogenic drivers can interact to affect the survival and growth of marine organisms. The giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera is sensitive to increasing seawater temperatures and susceptible to marine heatwaves. Light availability and hydrodynamics can also affect the growth, morphology, and resilience of this species. In this experiment, juvenile sporophytes of M. pyrifera from Scorching Bay, Wellington, Aotearoa, New Zealand, a were exposed to a combination of simulated marine heatwaves at one of four different temperatures (20, 22, and 24°C compared to a 16°C control), one of two irradiance levels (shaded: 0.9 mol photons · m^-2 · d^-1 or ambient: 1.4 mol photons · m^-2 · d^-1), and

SUBMITTER: Bunting I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12547647 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature