Kelp Forest

Photos of the Kelp Forest
Display all related images of Macrocystis pyrifera


Kelp photo. Kelp canopy., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #00268, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Kelp forest canopy., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #02121, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Kelp forest., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #01051, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]
Macrocystis pyrifera kelp forms huge beds along the western coast of North America. Individual kelp plants extend from the rocky reef and sand bottom to the surface, where they grow out and form a canopy.

Kelp photo. Kelp fronds and forest., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #01497, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Kelp forest canopy., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #02411, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Kelp forest., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #06092, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]
These kelp beds are home to a rich array of life. Kelp offers protection for prey, a hiding place for predators, and a substrate upon which smaller creatures can grow. The kelp forest is also a magnificent place to dive. Below are pictured a California bat ray (Myliobatis californica), a school of blacksmith (Chromis punctipinnis) and a diver amid kelp, all photographed at San Clemente Island, California. The Pacific torpedo ray (Torpedo californica) was photographed at Santa Rosa Island, California. The anemones are living on a Macrocystis stipe, photographed in Monterey, California. Last is shown kelp encrusting bryozoan (Membranipora membranacea) on giant kelp blade, San Clemente Island, California, 1.5 inches.

Kelp photo. California bat ray in kelp forest., Myliobatis californica, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #00267, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Blacksmith amidst kelp forest., Chromis punctipinnis, Macrocystis pyrifera, Santa Barbara Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #02410, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Proliferating anemone with attached juveniles, growing on kelp stipe., Epiactis prolifera, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #02478, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]

Kelp photo. Diver in kelp forest., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #01107, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Pacific torpedo ray in kelp forest, filming lights., Torpedo californica, Macrocystis pyrifera, Santa Rosa Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #01009, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Kelp encrusting bryozoan on giant kelp., Membranipora sp., Macrocystis pyrifera, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #02540, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]

Kelp photo. Giant kelpfish hiding amidst kelp fronds., Heterostichus rostratus, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #01945, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Ocean sunfish schooling near drift kelp, soliciting cleaner fishes, open ocean, Baja California., Mola mola, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #06392, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Salema schooling amid kelp forest., Xenistius californiensis, Macrocystis pyrifera,, Catalina Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #01022, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]

Kelp photo. Kelp holdfast and substrate., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #00622, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Kelp canopy., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #02118, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Kelp canopy., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #00602, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]
Kelp plants are anchored to the rocky reef with a holdfast above left). In a dense kelp forest, the rocky reef can hardly be seen beneath the many kelp plants (middle). The holdfast must withstand surge, back and forth water movement caused by large swells passing by (right).

Kelp photo. Kelp detail showing pneumatocysts (air bladders)., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #02497, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Kelp detail, San Diego., Macrocystis pyrifera, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #02125, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Kelp detail showing pneumatocysts (air bladders) attached to stipe, San Diego., Macrocystis pyrifera, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #02126, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]
Small gas bladders -- pneumatocysts -- connect the kelp's stipes (�stems�) to its blades (�leaves�).

Kelp photo. Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #00628, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #00627, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts., Macrocystis pyrifera, Santa Barbara Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #02435, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]

Kelp photo. Kelp detail showing pneumatocysts., Macrocystis pyrifera, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #01045, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts (air bladders)., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #03406, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts (air bladders)., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #03412, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]

Kelp photo. Kelp plants growing toward surface and spreading to form a canopy., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #01293, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Kelp fronds., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #01498, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Kelp canopy., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #00601, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]
These bladders help elevate the kelp plant from the bottom, towards sunlight and the water's surface. New growth occurs at the elevated end of the plant. When it reaches the surface, the kelp plant continues to grow and will spread out at the surface to form a thick canopy.

Kelp photo. Kelp growing towards the ocean surface., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #02500, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Kelp spread over ocean surface to form a canopy., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #02129, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Kelp canopy., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #02123, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]

Kelp photo. Kelp fronds grow upward from the reef below to reach the ocean surface and spread out to form a living canopy., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #07485, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Kelp fronds grow upward from the reef below to reach the ocean surface and spread out to form a living canopy., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #07490, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Boat Horizon above kelp forest., Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #03764, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]

Kelp photo. Drift kelp, open ocean., Macrocystis pyrifera, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #02501, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Blue shark searching drift kelp for food, open ocean., Prionace glauca, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #02288, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Ocean sunfish recruiting fish near drift kelp to clean parasites, open ocean, Baja California., Mola mola, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #03267, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]
Sometimes the kelp's holdfast will fail, and the kelp plant will drift off. It will float at the surface and continue to grow until it is beached or reaches water that is too warm. While drifting in the open ocean, it becomes a gathering point for offshore marine life. Baitfish, flying fish and juvenile fish seek protection amidst drift kelp. Ocean sunfish (Mola mola) approach kelp paddies, hoping to encounter other fishes that will clean them of parasites. Yellowtail (Seriola lalandei dorsalis) and other game fish visit drift kelp looking for smaller fishes to eat. Opportunistic blue sharks (Prionace glauca) and ocean sunfish (Mola mola) can often be found hanging around drift kelp. Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) have been known to play with pieces of drift kelp. Various invertebrates attach to drift kelp, including nudibranchs and barnacles. Even seabirds utilize kelp, such as this diving grebe observed hunting small fish under drift kelp.

Kelp photo. Pacific white sided dolphin carrying drift kelp., Lagenorhynchus obliquidens, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #00043, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Ocean sunfish schooling near drift kelp, soliciting cleaner fishes, open ocean, Baja California., Mola mola, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #06308, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]	Kelp photo. Half-moon perch schooling under offshore drift kelp, open ocean., Medialuna californiensis, Macrocystis pyrifera, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #02747, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]

Lowlying kelps, likely some form of palm kelp, Isla Guadalupe, Mexicocopyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #287, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #1249, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]		Kelp photo. Assorted lowlying kelps., Catalina Island, copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #01046, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]
Other kelps and �grasses� grow in these same waters, too.

Surf grass (Phyllospadix sp.), Isla Guadalupe, Mexicocopyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #2394, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]copyright Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, www.oceanlight.com, image #3736, all rights reserved worldwide. [ Large Version ]
See also: Kelp Forest Video
Keywords: kelp forest, kelp forest photo, kelp picture, giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, picture, photography, photograph, underwater
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