Ep. 545 - The Dynamics of Kelp Forest Ecology

In Defense of Plants Podcast

In Defense of Plants

Science & Medicine, Natural Sciences

4.8 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 28 September 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Kelp forests are among the most important marine habitats on our planet. They impact our lives in countless ways whether we realize it or not. To protect and restore kelp forests, we must first understand their complex dynamics and that is exactly what people like Dr. Aaron Galloway are trying to do. Listen in as we learn how he and his colleagues use everything from fatty acids to satellite imagery to try and understand how kelp forests are changing as our world changes around them. This episode was produced in part by Eva, Yellowroot, Wisewren, Nadia, Heidi, Blake, Josh, Laure, R.J., Carly, Lucia, Dana, Sarah, Lauren, Strych Mind, Linda, Sylvan, Austin, Sarah, Ethan, Elle, Steve, Cassie, Chuck, Aaron, Gillian, Abi, Rich, Shad, Maddie, Owen, Linda, Alana, Sigma, Max, Richard, Maia, Rens, David, Robert, Thomas, Valerie, Joan, Mohsin Kazmi Photography, Cathy, Simon, Nick, Paul, Charis, EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen, Heidi, Kristin, Luke, Sea, Shannon, Thomas, Will, Jamie, Waverly, Brent, Tanner, Rick, Kazys, Dorothy, Katherine, Emily, Theo, Nichole, Paul, Karen, Randi, Caelan, Tom, Don, Susan, Corbin, Keena, Robin, Peter, Whitney, Kenned, Margaret, Daniel, Karen, David, Earl, Jocelyn, Gary, Krysta, Elizabeth, Southern California Carnivorous Plant Enthusiasts, Pattypollinators, Peter, Judson, Ella, Alex, Dan, Pamela, Peter, Andrea, Nathan, Karyn, Michelle, Jillian, Chellie, Linda, Laura, Miz Holly, Christie, Carlos, Paleo Fern, Levi, Sylvia, Lanny, Ben, Lily, Craig, Sarah, Lor, Monika, Brandon, Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina, Christine, Silas, Michael, Aristia, Felicidad, Lauren, Danielle, Allie, Jeffrey, Amanda, Tommy, Marcel, C Leigh, Karma, Shelby, Christopher, Alvin, Arek, Chellie, Dani, Paul, Dani, Tara, Elly, Colleen, Natalie, Nathan, Ario, Laura, Cari, Margaret, Mary, Connor, Nathan, Jan, Jerome, Brian, Azomonas, Ellie, University Greens, Joseph, Melody, Patricia, Matthew, Garrett, John, Ashley, Cathrine, Melvin, OrangeJulian, Porter, Jules, Griff, Joan, Megan, Marabeth, Les, Ali, Southside Plants, Keiko, Robert, Bryce, Wilma, Amanda, Helen, Mikey, Michelle, German, Joerg, Cathy, Tate, Steve, Kae, Carole, Mr. Keith Santner, Lynn, Aaron, Sara, Kenned, Brett, Jocelyn, Ethan, Sheryl, Runaway Goldfish, Ryan, Chris, Alana, Rachel, Joanna, Lori, Paul, Griff, Matthew, Bobby, Vaibhav, Steven, Joseph, Brandon, Liam, Hall, Jared, Brandon, Christina, Carly, Kazys, Stephen, Katherine, Manny, doeg, Daniel, Tim, Philip, Tim, Lisa, Brodie, Bendix, Irene, holly, Sara, and Margie.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello everyone and welcome to the Indefensive Plants podcast, the official podcast of Inoffensiveplants.com.
0:05.1	What's up? This is your host, Matt. Welcome to the show. How is everyone doing this week?
0:08.6	I hope you brought your wetsuits and your snorkeling gear because we are going underwater today to talk about the world of kelp and other algies.
0:16.2	Yes, traditionally speaking kelp and its relatives are not true plants, but they are serving many of
0:21.8	the same functions in their aquatic ecosystems that plants do. In fact, kelps form forests all
0:27.6	around the coasts, wherever conditions suit them, and they are cornerstones of marine ecosystems.
0:33.5	They affect our lives both directly and indirectly, and not only is understanding them important,
0:38.5	we also must work to protect them.
0:40.7	Joining us to talk about this is Dr. Aaron Galloway, who spends a lot of time using micro and
0:46.1	macro techniques to understand these vitally important ecosystems.
0:50.3	His insights into this world are absolutely fascinating, so I don't want to keep you from it
0:53.7	any longer.
0:54.5	So without further ado, here's my conversation with Dr. Aaron Galloway.
0:57.7	I hope you enjoy.
1:15.0	All right, Dr. Aaron Galloway, welcome to the podcast.
1:16.7	It is so great to have you here.
1:20.5	I actually really can't wait to dive into what you do, pun intended, I guess in this case.
1:23.7	But for those that aren't familiar with your work, let's start off with an introduction.
1:26.3	Tell everyone a little bit about who you are and what it is you do.
1:28.6	Thank you. I appreciate being here. I appreciate the invitation. Yeah, well, I'm a marine biologist generally, and I work in
1:35.2	coastal subtitle ecosystems, I guess. Subtitle meaning that we operate, we work below the ocean surface,
1:42.6	and I'm in mostly coastal habitats. Right now I'm on the Oregon coast and so most of my research has to do with this interface between land and the shallow coastal shelf, places that we can dive.
	...

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