Name: 海帶森林：海洋中的紅杉 (Kelp Forests: The Sequoias of the Sea)
Uploaded: 2025-08-12T16:13:19.000Z
Duration: 3 min 54 s

From above, this ecosystem may look unalluring, but dive down into this magical world and you will be amazed.

從高空俯瞰，這個生態系統可能毫無吸引力，但潛入這個神奇的世界，你會大吃一驚。

Kelp forests are found all around the globe, covering 25% of the world's coastlines in both temperate and polar regions.

海帶森林遍佈全球，覆蓋了全球溫帶和極地地區 25% 的海岸線。

Towering to heights of up to 40 metres, kelp provides the architecture for an entire community.

高達 40 米的海帶為整個社區提供了建築結構。

Just like a regular forest, organisms live in the different layers of this ecosystem.

就像普通的森林一樣，生物生活在這個生態系統的不同層次。

Kelp anchors, known as holdfasts, along with blades, host numerous creatures from worms and sponges to fish, birds and marine mammals.

海帶錨（被稱為錨固物）和葉片寄生著無數生物，從蠕蟲和海綿到魚類、鳥類和海洋哺乳動物。

The understory bursts with sea urchins, abalones, starfish and snails.

底層生長著海膽、鮑魚、海星和蝸牛。

Grazers chomp their way through the understory.

Others feast on the creatures living on the kelp blades.

其他人則以生活在海藻葉片上的生物為食。

Predators weave their way in and out of the fronds, searching for prey.

捕食者在葉片中穿梭來去，尋找獵物。

Kelp is the foundation species for this entire ecosystem.

海帶是整個生態系統的基礎物種。

But perhaps more importantly, kelp plays a pivotal role in combating climate change.

但也許更重要的是，海帶在應對氣候變化方面發揮著舉足輕重的作用。

It grows up to half a metre a day, rapidly sequestering carbon from the atmosphere, whilst locally mitigating ocean acidification and deoxygenation.

它每天的生長速度可達半米，能迅速從大氣中固碳，同時在局部緩解海洋酸化和脫氧。

Globally, kelp forests contribute millions of dollars through harvesting, fisheries, tourism, climate regulation and shoreline protection.

在全球範圍內，海藻林通過採伐、漁業、旅遊業、氣候調節和海岸線保護，貢獻了數百萬美元。

But worldwide, they are in serious decline.

但在世界範圍內，它們卻在嚴重衰退。

Local stresses like coastal pollution combined with ocean warming are largely to blame. 95% of Tasmania's kelp forests have already been lost.

沿海汙染和海洋變暖等當地壓力在很大程度上是罪魁禍首。塔斯馬尼亞 95% 的海藻林已經消失。

Along the west coast of America, a marine heatwave combined with disease wiped out sea stars, which predate purple sea urchins.

在美國西海岸，一場海洋熱浪加上疾病，導致比紫色海膽更早的海星滅絕。

The urchin population exploded, decimating kelp forests and transforming the seascape into an urchin barren.

海膽數量激增，海藻林銳減，海景變成了海膽荒原。

Even when there is no kelp left, they can slow the metabolism to a hibernation-like state and live for another 50 years, leaving a lasting effect on a crucial ecosystem.

即使海帶已經消失殆盡，它們也能將新陳代謝減慢到類似冬眠的狀態，並能再活 50 年，給重要的生態系統留下持久的影響。

But nature can recover when people fight back.

但是，只要人們奮起反抗，大自然就能恢復。

In areas like California, scientists, divers and surfers are joining forces in a momentous effort to cull urchins by hand.

在加利福尼亞等地區，科學家、潛水員和衝浪者正聯手開展一項重要的人工捕殺海膽的工作。

Once removed, work is being done to reintroduce grazers and natural predators like sea otters and rock lobsters to help keep urchin numbers down.

一旦海膽被移走，目前正在努力重新引入食草動物和天敵，如海獺和巖龍蝦，以幫助減少海膽的數量。

Given the chance, kelp can regenerate and eventually return to this.

只要有機會，海帶就能再生，並最終恢復原狀。

You too can help support kelp forests by donating to kelp conservation programs or volunteering and participating in citizen science projects.

您也可以通過向海藻保護計劃捐款或志願參與公民科學項目來支持海藻森林。

So why not become an urchin diver and help give kelp forests a fighting chance?

那麼，為什麼不成為一名海膽潛水員，幫助海藻森林獲得一線生機呢？