The secret of underwater forests near the Commander Islands was revealed in Kamchatka
The depths of the Pacific Ocean in the national park “Commander Islands” hide a wonderful world, reports Kamchatka.Today.
Part of this world is underwater forests of brown algae. These giant plants don’t just decorate the bottom, but create entire ecosystems full of life.,
According to the national park, on some parts of the archipelago’s coast, brown algae form a real underwater jungle. These thickets are “kindergartens” for juvenile fish, a shelter for crabs, octopuses and sea urchins, seals and sea otters.
Some algae are widely known in humans, even by taste. So, the islands of the Commander archipelago are “inhabited” by kelp (“sea cabbage”) It is used in food and medicine.
As noted in the national park, underwater forests are the same developed ecosystem as their terrestrial “counterparts”. However, they face a unique set of factors and are able to adapt to low water temperatures, strong storms and currents, as well as bacterial microflora. Perhaps the key to new biotechnologies lies in the work of these mechanisms.
Photo by Evgeny Mamaev and Anna Klimova/Commander Islands National Park.