Seminar – The ecology of kelp forests in a changing ocean: physiology, microbiomes & carbon cycling

Haylee Bregoff

Dr. Brooke Weigel | Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station

presenting: "The ecology of kelp forests in a changing ocean: physiology, microbiomes & carbon cycling"

Hosted by: Research Diving Program

MLML Seminar | May 14th, 2025 at 4pm (PDT)

Watch the Live Stream here or here

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The ecology of kelp forests in a changing ocean: physiology, microbiomes & carbon cycling

Climate change is threatening kelp forests, with 40-60% of kelp forests in decline globally. My research has identified critical temperature thresholds for growth, survival, and reproduction across the life cycle of bull kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana. Kelp blades harbor abundant and diverse microbial communities, which are also impacted by ocean warming. We will dive into the world of kelp microbiomes, looking at the factors that shape the assembly and composition, micron-scale spatial structure, and functional role of the kelp microbiome. Finally, kelp play an important role in the global carbon cycle by creating highly productive underwater forests that contribute to carbon sequestration – we will discuss key knowledge gaps in our understanding of carbon cycling in kelp forests.

Dr. Brooke Seigel

Dr. Brooke Weigel is an Assistant Professor of Oceans at Stanford University, based at Hopkins Marine Station. Previously, she was a Kelp Conservation Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Labs and a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at Western Washington University. Brooke has been working in kelp forest ecosystems for almost 10 years. Brooke received her PhD from the University of Chicago, where she studied kelp forest ecology on Tatoosh Island, Washington.