Winter Storms Significantly Impact Giant Kelp Forest Productivity, UCSB Study Finds

Scientists at UC Santa Barbara have determined that environmental disturbances, particularly winter storms, exert a greater influence on the net primary productivity of giant kelp forests than resource availability. Published in *Ecology*, this NSF-sponsored research underscores the critical, often understudied, role of disruptions in ecosystem health. The findings offer valuable insights for conservation and restoration efforts in ecosystems increasingly affected by climate change.