Marine protected areas keep California’s kelp resilient against rising water temperatures, UCLA scientists find
UCLA geographers using satellite data have discovered that kelp forests recover better after marine heat waves in marine protected areas than in unprotected areas. The researchers believe that the protection put in place within MPAs may support kelp against multiple environmental stressors. … This effect, known as a trophic cascade, has been documented in other ecosystems where apex predators are protected. The finding is published in the Journal of Applied Ecology.