Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution scientists have identified heat-resistant strains of kelp, potentially bolstering marine ecosystems and sustainable industries in the face of climate change.
Researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), a private nonprofit organization, have discovered heat-resistant strains of kelp, a breakthrough that holds promise for the survival of marine ecosystems and the bolstering of sustainable industries in the face of global warming.
Like many forms of aquatic vegetation, kelp is facing severe challenges due to rising ocean temperatures. Traditional strains of sugar kelp, which are commonly farmed, are experiencing shorter growing seasons, impacting their productivity. This has serious ramifications not only for marine ecosystems but also for sectors reliant on kelp for food, feed, fertilizer, medicine and cosmetics.
To address this pressing issue, WHOI scientists have identified kelp species with natural genetic adaptations that could help them thrive in warmer waters. The findings are published in the Journal of Applied Phycology.
“There is genetic diversity among sugar kelp populations, which means some kelp may already have useful adaptations to cope with warmer temperatures,” lead author Sara Gonzalez, a guest investigator in WHOI’s Applied Physics and Ocean Engineering Department, said in a news release. “We found that when we crossed gametophytes identified as heat-tolerant, they produced kelp blades that grew better under heat stress compared to the offspring of gametophytes that were not heat-tolerant. This is an important step toward understanding how to breed heat-tolerant kelp and helping kelp farmers increase reliability in their yields in warming ocean waters.”
The study focused on the Northeastern United States, particularly regions where kelp populations are declining, such as the Gulf of Maine — the fastest-warming body of water in the world. Kelp farms in this area are crucial, not only for local biodiversity but also in combating global warming, as they act as significant carbon sinks.
“Kelp is incredibly versatile. It can also be converted into new fuel sources and can potentially reduce greenhouse gases and our dependence on fossil fuels,” added co-author Scott Lindell, a research specialist in aquaculture technology at WHOI. “In a hotter and drier world of the future, it will be hard to find a better resource for biofuels than farmed seaweed. This study allows us to accelerate the breeding of heat-tolerant kelp strains, thus helping sustain the industry. ”
The research involved assessing the heat tolerance of kelp gametophytes — microscopic stages that eventually produce kelp blades — collected from nearshore waters between New York and Maine.
After over four years of laboratory growth, heat-tolerant gametophytes were crossbred to produce more resilient strains. The offspring demonstrated significantly better growth under heat stress compared to those from less resistant strains.
“Future research could address whether one kelp parent transfers more heat tolerance to their offspring,” Lindell added. “A larger sample size and further work could also show which part of kelp genes is related to heat tolerance.”
This pioneering work by WHOI provides a pathway to sustain kelp farming industries amid accelerating climate change, ensuring that this versatile and ecologically critical resource continues to thrive.