Kelp

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/kelp

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Laminariales
2. How do kelp forests help the ocean?Kelp forests are homes for many sea creatures, giving them food and shelter. They also clean the water by absorbing excess nutrients.
3. Why are kelp forests important for animals?They are the base of the food web, feeding tiny plankton, sea urchins, fish, and even sea otters that protect the forest.

Macroalgae: Large, multicellular algae, including seaweeds like kelp, that are visible to the naked eye.
Holdfast: A specialized structure in kelp that attaches it firmly to the substrate, analogous to roots but without nutrient absorption function.
Keystone Species: A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance, significantly influencing ecosystem structure and function.
Blue Carbon: Carbon sequestered and stored in coastal and marine ecosystems, such as kelp forests, mangroves, and salt marshes, offering a significant climate mitigation potential.