COSEE Ocean Systems: News
Giant kelp switches diet when key nutrient becomes scarce
Description: One of the fastest-growing organisms on Earth, giant kelp can grow 2 feet a day and reach almost 150 feet in length -- in one growing season. Growth spurts of this large seaweed are fueled by a diet of dissolved nitrogen. One of the main forms of nitrogen is nitrate, and although nitrate is scarce in the summer and fall, giant kelp continues to grow year-round. Researchers wanted to determine how giant kelp maintained its impressive growth in seasons when nitrate all but disappears. [Source: National Science Foundation]
URL: https://nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=245489&org=NSF&from=news
Availability: Full Text
Source: National Science Foundation
Publish Date: 6/7/2018
Reading Level: Basic
Page Length:  

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