MULTIDECADAL REMOTE SENSING OF KELP FORESTS IN ARGENTINA

In recent years, satellite imagery has been utilized to monitor the dynamics of kelp forest canopies across vast temporal and spatial scales. Previous research has focused heavily on Eastern Pacific Ocean coastlines in the northern hemisphere, despite the southern hemisphere having highly productive and abundant kelp forests. Even though the coast of Argentina is home to some of the largest Macrocystis pyrifera kelp forests in the world, there have been few long term studies in Argentina due to its vast remote coastlines, making satellite imagery an invaluable research tool. Landsat satellite imagery was utilized to gather long term data (40 years) across three Argentinian provinces; Chubut, Santa Cruz, and Tierra del Fuego. Given the high variability of kelp forests, long-term data is necessary to elucidate patterns and environmental drivers that are influencing their abundance and distribution. This study found that Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego provinces have the largest kelp habitat, and Chubut and Tierra del Fuego provinces showed significant increases in kelp forest canopy area over decadal timescales. Additionally, we found the Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) to be significantly related to kelp forest canopy dynamics in Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego provinces. This study provides valuable insight on the size, location, and dynamics of kelp forest ecosystems to inform future conservation efforts.

Primary Presenter: Ashland Aguilar, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (aguilar.as@northeastern.edu)

Authors:

Ashland Aguilar, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution  (ashland.aguilar@whoi.edu)

Henry Houskeeper, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution  (henry.houskeeper@whoi.edu)

Caro Pantano, Por el Mar Foundation  (caro@porelmar.org)

Tom Bell, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution  (tbell@whoi.edu)