Kelpforesten
Kelpforesten is a coastal ecotone described as a mosaic zone where underwater kelp forests meet nearby woodland or forest ecosystems. The concept highlights cross-habitat interactions that influence nutrient exchange, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience in temperate coastal zones.
Habitat and distribution: Kelpforesten is associated with rocky or stable sandy substrates in shallow subtidal zones,
Ecology: The area hosts a diverse community: marine invertebrates, fish, and sheltering species in the kelp
Threats and conservation: Climate change, warming seas, overfishing, pollution, and physical disturbance can degrade kelp stands
In research and policy: The term underscores the importance of cross-habitat connectivity for biodiversity and ecosystem
See also: kelp forest, ecotone, coastal ecology, land-sea interaction.