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Original article: Estudio de la U. de Chile advierte disminución de bosques submarinos de huiro negro hacia 2050: Perderían el 58% de su hábitat

Along the coasts of Chile, beneath the surface and often unnoticed, lie true underwater forests that, despite their obscurity, are vital to marine life.

Composed of macroalgae, these ecosystems provide shelter, food, and habitat for a variety of species, while also playing key roles in the stability of coastal areas.

Among these are Lessonia berteroana and Lessonia spicata, two endemic black kelp species residing in the intertidal zone, where the sea ebbs and flows with the tide.

Considered foundational species, these macroalgae serve as ecological architects of Chile’s coastline, forming extensive underwater forests that provide habitat, refuge, and nourishment for countless marine species. They also contribute to coastal protection, carbon capture, and support for local communities that depend on ocean resources.

Unlike other macroalgae that remain submerged, these species thrive in more shallow areas, making them vulnerable to rising temperatures and marine heatwaves. This exposure renders them especially sensitive to environmental changes and more accessible for harvesting, contributing to their population decline.

In light of this situation, a research team analyzed how climate change may alter the future distribution of these two species along the Chilean coast.

The study, titled “Kelps on the Move: Potential Future Distribution Areas in the Face of Climate Change on the Pacific Coast of South America,” was published in the journal PLOS ONE and conducted by Dr. Alejandra González from the Department of Ecological Sciences at the University of Chile, alongside student Natalia Sanhueza.

Also contributing were researchers Milen Duarte from the Austral University of Chile, and Julio A. Vásquez and Fadia Tala from the Catholic University of the North.

Modeling results projected a potential habitat reduction exceeding 58% for both species by 2050, especially significant in northern and central-northern regions of Chile.

However, the expert warns that these macroalgae also face massive harvesting, consequences from climate change, and intensive coastal use. Her team is pushing for repopulation and restoration strategies with coastal communities.

According to professor Alejandra González, the modeling focused solely on one variable: temperature increase. However, she cautions that the actual problem is more complex, with multiple factors threatening kelp populations.

“On one side, there’s mass harvesting, while on the other, we have climate change and coastal usage,” says the researcher, adding that pollution, illegal fishing, and coastal interventions—such as marinas and construction—also reduce the available space for these natural populations.

For the academic, the value of these marine forests extends beyond biology: “They are not only important because they are endemic species of Chile, but they also provide ecosystem services,” she explains. As foundational species, they support a rich diversity of marine organisms, aid in carbon capture, mitigate wave impacts, and help reduce coastal erosion.

Initial Assessment

More than a conclusion, the paper represents an initial assessment within a broader research line on the future of black kelp in Chile.

Alongside the modeling, the academic team has conducted experimental work aimed at strengthening these populations through hybrid macroalgae—an approach designed to enhance their resilience without relocating them from their original habitat. “What we basically do is create a stronger alga that can withstand better stress without moving it from its space,” she describes.

The procedure involves working with genetic material from the same location, cultivating it and replanting it in the same area, thereby increasing local genetic diversity and enhancing the populations’ responses to environmental stress and climate change. “We work with different coves and replant them right there,” she adds.

This repopulation initiative using hybrids has been developed in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Packard Foundation, and the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca), alongside independent worker unions from various fishing coves, including Caleta Chigualoco in Los Vilos; Caleta Talca in Ovalle; Punta Frodden in Caldera; and Totoralillo Norte in La Higuera.

This work is conducted alongside fishermen and coastal communities, which the researcher considers a key aspect.

The generation of restoration solutions together with those who live and work along the coast is viewed by the team as an essential component for the long-term conservation of these ecosystems. In various regions, she explains, there is local knowledge regarding resource management, with practices such as rotation and area resting to prevent overexploitation.

Unfortunately, illegal activities and low oversight continue to undermine these efforts.

El Ciudadano

La entrada University of Chile Study Warns of 58% Decline in Black Kelp Forests by 2050 Amid Climate Change se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.