Kelp Forests of The Gulf Of Maine

The Gulf of Maine contains several ecosystems, including mysterious kelp forests. These strands of brown seaweed stand several feet tall and are used by fish and other organisms to swim through, hide in, and gain nutrients. Kelp forests provide critical ecosystem functions, yet climate change is reshaping their distribution and the rules that govern them. In this talk, Dr. Rasher will discuss his collaborative research in the Gulf of Maine, which has documented rapid change within Maine’s kelp forests, the drivers of change, and how these changes are redefining the ecology of Maine’s coast. He will also talk about what measures can be taken to ensure that Maine’s remaining kelp forests persist in the coming decades.

Dr. Douglas Rasher is a marine ecologist and Senior Research Scientist at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. Rasher’s research spans the globe — from tropical coral reefs to subarctic kelp forests — and employs interdisciplinary techniques, all with a central aim of revealing the causes and consequences of abrupt habitat shifts within reef ecosystems. When not doing science, Dr. Rasher enjoys boating, hiking, and skiing on Maine’s coast with his wife and two children.

This free event is part of BRLT’s three-part Spring Guest Speaker Series sponsored by Tindal & Callahan Real Estate. This talk will take place inside the farmhouse at BRLT’s Oak Point Farm and has limited space. Please scroll down and register below: