Kelp

Kelp is a collective term for large brown seaweed. It grows very quickly, forming huge underwater forests that thrive particularly in shallow, cold, nutrient-rich oceans. These kelp forests are ecologically important because they provide a habitat, shelter and food source for numerous marine organisms. They also produce oxygen, bind carbon dioxide and reduce the force of waves, thereby contributing to coastal protection. However, they are under threat and in decline due to heatwaves in the sea, ecological imbalances such as an increase in hungry sea urchins, environmental pollution and coastal development.

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