Storm Bay, Tasmania - Beneath the waves of Storm Bay in Tasmania, a unique experiment unfolds, holding the potential to safeguard entire ecosystems from the relentless threat of warming oceans. Here, at a salmon farm, researchers nurture various types of giant kelp - majestic underwater giants capable of reaching a staggering 175 feet - grown on ropes, meticulously tracking which varieties possess the resilience to thrive in an ever-warming environment.
Tasmania, an island harboring a cornerstone fishing industry and known as a global hotspot for ocean warming, has witnessed a devastating 95% decline in its once-thriving giant kelp forests. Rising water temperatures, increasingly frequent marine heat waves, and the aggressive intrusion of invasive sea urchins have conspired to dismantle these vital underwater havens.
However, a beacon of hope shines through. A collaborative effort, fueled by financial support from environmental groups, philanthropic organizations, and even tech giants like Alphabet's Google, aims to resurrect Tasmania's lost kelp kingdoms. Giant kelp boasts an array of ecological benefits - creating underwater forests teeming with commercially important species, acting as vital carbon sinks akin to their terrestrial counterparts, and providing a crucial habitat for diverse marine life.
This endeavor mirrors a global race to equip marine ecosystems with the necessary armor against the adverse effects of climate change, characterized by rising water temperatures, ocean acidification, and declining oxygen levels. Scientists warn of potentially dire consequences. Coral reefs face the bleak possibility of vanishing entirely, algal blooms might tighten their suffocating grip on underwater life, and fish populations could embark on drastic migratory shifts, potentially jeopardizing fisheries around the world.
This week alone, Australian scientists documented severe coral bleaching in a section of the Great Barrier Reef, highlighting the alarming reality of rising water temperatures exceeding summer averages.
"There's a chance we may reach a point of no return," conceded Professor Craig Johnson, overseeing crucial research on giant kelp at the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. "But given how vital this species is, it's our responsibility to give it our all."
The Tasmanian scientists are spearheading numerous initiatives: identifying heat-resistant kelp, deploying artificial intelligence (AI) and genetic analysis to unlock the secrets of kelp resilience, and devising cost-effective methods for large-scale replanting in the wild. Ultimately, this knowledge could pave the way for breeding even more temperature-tolerant kelp strains.
Yet, success remains an elusive butterfly – cultivating giant kelp in labs presents logistical challenges due to their immense size. Efforts to curb the sea urchin invasion might prove insufficient, and marine heat waves could escalate beyond the tolerance limits of even the most resilient kelp varieties. Additionally, scientists grapple with an unresolved conundrum: are genetic factors the paramount determinant of heat resistance, or do environmental variations like light and nutrient availability hold greater sway?
To unravel this mystery, researchers, including those from Australia's national science agency (CSIRO), are turning to Google's cutting-edge AI tools. These tools aim to identify distinct genetic patterns associated with heat resistance in kelp. Alongside this, years' worth of satellite imagery will undergo AI-powered analysis by Google, granting scientists a clearer picture of kelp distribution across Australia.
Professor Sergey Nuzhdin, a biological sciences expert at the University of Southern California, and part of a team that recently sequenced the genome of a giant kelp variety in the United States, commends the Tasmanian initiative, labeling it "a vital and innovative undertaking."
Over the years, scientists across Tasmania have painstakingly collected the kelp's reproductive fronds, responsible for producing microscopic spores that eventually mature into these colossal underwater sentinels. While lab tests indicate promising results with certain individuals exhibiting improved performance in warmer water during their microscopic stage, translating this resilience to their later, mature phase remains uncertain.
The dwindling kelps are a source of profound concern for many locals whose lives are intricately entwined with the ocean. Anthony Klye, a 57-year-old fisherman in Fortescue Bay, vividly reminisces about setting his nets at the edge of the lush kelp forests, teeming with marine life. However, a recent diving expedition for urchins in the same bay yielded not a single strand of kelp – a stark contrast to the past, where, as Klye recounts, "it was like a mat on the water, almost walkable."
