Regime shifts from kelp forests to turfs: drivers, resilience and future

该项目旨在采用比较实验和分析方法，量化推动三大洲海带森林损失和草皮扩张的多种压力因素之间的联系。海藻森林转变为草皮珊瑚礁，会造成生态生产力和功能的严重损失，对依赖海藻生态系统的生物多样性和功能的社会产生重大影响。田间和实验室实验将用于开发和测试“绿色砾石”，这是一种新的恢复工具，旨在克服阻碍海带森林恢复的强化反馈（缺乏孢子和硬基质）。这将通过确定解决澳大利亚和全球海藻森林损失的解决方案提供重大利益。

This project aims to apply a comparative experimental and analytical approach to quantify linkages among multiple stressors driving kelp forest loss and expansion of turfs across three continents. Transformations of kelp forests to turf reefs are associated with a profound loss of ecological productivity and function, with significant impacts for societies reliant on the biodiversity and functioning of kelp ecosystems. Field and laboratory experiments will be used to develop and test ‘green gravel’, a novel restoration tool that aims to overcome reinforcing feedbacks (lack spores and hard substrate) preventing recovery of kelp forests. This will provide significant benefits by identifying solutions to address loss of kelp forests in Australia and globally.