| Like the forests on land, few animals
feed on the kelp. Animals benefit from the kelp in that it gives them
protection from predators. Above the swaying kelp, shoals of small
fisk, like the two-spot goby, abound. Larger fish
are also present like the goldsinny
and ballan
wrasse. Down below under the kelp, amongst the stalks and roots,
there is more shade and only small gleams of light penetrate the bottom
when the leaves sway in the waves. Because the water here is constantly
in motion, oxygen
deficency is seldom a problem. Amongst the dark red algae, i.e.
red encrusting
alga thrives. A great many other animals also thrive under the
swaying roof, i.e. spongie,
hydroids,
anemones, sea-mats
and polychaetes. |
The kelp leaves provide a sheltering roof above the
stalks and roots. White sea-mats
are pictured above living on the stalks of finger
or sugar kelp. |
