Walking on a different beach recently, just a few miles south of where I live, I became mesmerized by the Bullwhip Kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) that had washed ashore. The smoothness and the golden-brown coloration of the floats (pneumatocysts) made them quite photogenic. I am clearly not the first person to be fascinated by the floats of this kelp since the name Nereocytstis is Greek for Mermaid’s Bladder.

As you know by now, once something catches my eye I am driven to dive into the subject and this was no exception. The rapid growth rate of Bullwhip Kelp is astounding enough: morphing from a single spore to 120′ long in one growing season (that’s over 5” a day). But the real story is the interconnection between this kelp, sea urchins, sea stars, and Sea Otters.

Back in March I shared information about the Sea Star Wasting Syndrome (SSWS) that caused a massive die-off of sea stars along our Pacific coast. First noted the summer of 2013, the disease has affected over 19 species of sea stars, severely depleting the population. Turns out we have more to mourn than the loss of sea stars, as entire ecosystems have been negatively impacted.

Ochre Sea Stars (Pisaster ochraceus), control California Mussel (Mytilus californianus) abundance on intertidal rocks which allows for a greater diversity of species on those valuable territories. A bit further offshore in the subtidal zone, Sunflower Sea Stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides) prey predominately on sea urchins. Since 2015 the sea urchin population has exploded, according to one researcher, “…densities have increased from less than one urchin per square meter to anywhere from a dozen to three dozen…”

Sea urchins voraciously devour algae, which includes kelp. Even Bullwhip Kelp (the fastest growing kelp in the world) can not withstand the onslaught of unrestrained masses of sea urchins. Urchin barrens now cover vast sections off the west coast where great kelp forests once thrived.

This is devastating since kelp forests not only minimize wave action but they provide sheltering habitat for a number of species, including Sea Otters. Sea Otters are inextricably linked to these kelp forests as they hunt and sleep amongst the stems and ribbons. The decline of Sea Otter populations is at least partially linked to SSWS.

There is a bright spot in this sad tale, sea star surveys conducted in the past few months have noted a huge increase in juveniles. There is even a high likelihood that these youngest sea stars are immune to SSWS. Hopefully, these nearshore ecosystems are on the road to recovery.

Float with Visible Gas Bubble

Matte Finish Float

Shiny Float

Semi-transparent Float

Polished Bronze Float

Pale Float

Burnished Float