Biomass and population structure of kelp (Laminaria spp.) in southwestern Nova Scotia / by G.J. Sharp and J.A. Carter.: Fs97-4/1907E-PDF

"A survey using a combination of aerial photography (1:10,000 colour) and groundtruthing on diving transects located .577 ha of mixed kelp species. Aerial photography was most effective where kelp was less than 4 m deep and where the edge of kelp beds was outlined by a substrate transition. Sixty-three percent of the area occupied by kelp was located by aerial photography. Average biomass density was 42.2 t ha⁻¹, comprising 40% Laminaria digitata and 60% Laminaria longicruris. The predominantly boulder substrate supported 23,376 t fresh weight of kelp. The majority of biomass was located between 0 and 5 m water depth along semi-exposed and exposed shorelines. In the most wave-exposed locations, L. digitata was the dominant species, whereas it was 30% or less of the total biomass in sheltered areas. The population structure of kelp species varied with depth, substrate, water movement, and wave exposure. However, with the exception of wave exposure, plant morphology did not vary significantly along environmental gradients"--Abstract, page iv.

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