Ecological Interactions and Biodiversity of Kelp Forests

by Lauren Fieberg of Sage Hill School

Grade Level K-4
Subject Science

Overview

Kelp forests play a vital role of the health of our global oceans. These fragile biodiverse

ecosystems provide the ideal ecosystem to look at ecological interactions among

organisms, trophic structure, nutrient cycling, and overall ecosystem dynamics. Often times

students who live near the coast get to experience the rock intertidal zone, but rarely do

students get a chance to explore and understand what lies beneath the vastness of the

ocean. This lesson will allow students to explore the kelp forest using basic concepts in

ecology without having ever left the classroom.

Objectives

Students will:

â— Engage in meaningful activities focus around kelp forest ecology and the role of

kelp forests in maintaining the health of our local and global oceans

Procedure

Background

Kelp forests provide an important role in the health our global

oceans. They are found pole to pole in nutrientÂrich waters with

water temperatures typically 20Â°C or less. Their dependence on

light for photosynthesis restricts them to shallow coastal zones no

greater than 40m in depth, an area often referred to as the subtidal

zone. These kelp forests rapidly grow, sometimes gaining up to

30cm per day, and provide a rich biodiverse ecosystem for some of

the 800 species that call it home. Each species occupies itâ€™s own

specific niche, or role within the environment. The balance of these

interactions is what keeps the kelp forest healthy and in balance

with the surrounding ocean environment. With more and more

human exploitation of our ocean resources, our kelp forests and the

species that reside within them have become threatened. To

maintain their existence humans have resorted to restoration efforts.

Activities

1. Drawing comparisons between structure of kelp and that of a plant

2. Looking at Energy flow and interactions within the kelp---students research one

organism and create/add it to the kelp forest they created---students are asked to

think about how many organisms would lose their habitat if the kelp didnâ€™t exist,

or if specific species didnâ€™t exist.

Lesson Plan

1. Q. What is a kelp forest and why is it important for ocean health?

â— Have students think pair share

â— Whole class share out

â— Read overview and background provided

2. Q. How does kelp get energy to grow?

â— Discuss photosynthesis briefly

3. Review or introduce the following terms:

â— Ecology

â— Ecological Interaction (within species, among different species),

Interdependent Relationships

â— Ecological Niche/Role

â— Biodiversity

â— Food Web

II. Presentation (20 MIN)

(Instruction TO)

â— Modeling, visuals,

demos, hands-on,

gestures, body

language

â— Scaffolding- such as

think-alouds.

â— Interaction

4. Read the background provided on kelp forests.

5. Watch the film: The Kelp Lady (10 min)

6. Compare the kelp forest to a local ecosystem such as a forest or savannah

and discuss biodiversity.

IV. Practice &

Application (20-30 MIN)

(Instruction WITH)

â— Meaningful Activities

â— Interaction

â— Strategies

7.Exploring structure and function of kelp: Have students complete the plants

vs. kelp worksheet provided.

â— Have them make observations about the structure of plant portion

firstâ€”labeling: leaves, roots, stem.

â— Walk them through the kelp part labeling kelp: stipe, blade, holdfast, and

float.

â— When they are finished labeling have them draw a dotted line between

similar structures on plant and kelp: (holdfast-roots; blade-leaf; stipe-stem).

Go over the correct answers at end.

8. Create a kelp forest: Give each student a piece of construction paper and

based on their kelp diagram cut out a blade of kelp. If you are worried about

size and shape uniformity you can provide a template. Attach all blades to

string to create a large length(s) of kelp. Eventually stringing this to the ceiling.

9. Looking at Energy flow and interactions within the kelp: students research

one organism and create using construction paper and markers/add it to the

kelp forest they created---students are asked to think about how many

organisms would loose there habitat if the kelp didnâ€™t exist, or if specific

species didnâ€™t exist.

10. Class discussion regarding the role of kelp and the role of individual

organisms within the kelp forest

Assessment

Independent

Practice/Assessment (5

MIN)

(Instruction BY)

11. Feedback to students

12. Assess student

comprehension and

learning throughout

lesson.

10. Provide any feedback needed.

Q. Were students able to successfully create their kelp forest?

Q. Did students gain knowledge about the differences and similarities between

the structure of kelp and the structure of plants?

Q. Did students gain insight into the diversity of the kelp forest ecosystem?

Closure (5 MIN)

13. Review key vocabulary

concepts

14. Reflection

15. Metacognition

16. Revisit Essential Question

11. Review the essential questions and vocabulary.

12. Install kelp forest and keep in the classroom for review.

13. Have students share out about local Eco Heros in their lives similar to Nancy

Caruso in the film (for a longer assignment students could produce a video, art

piece, or short story)

Standards