Project Grant 2425417

The National Science Foundation awarded a $1,275,001 Project Grant under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) to the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) to conduct fundamental research on kelp forest ecosystems. The grant, titled "LTER: ENVIRONMENTAL DRIVERS AND ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF KELP FOREST DYNAMICS ON A CHANGING PLANET (SBC V)", aims to advance predictive understanding of how natural disturbances, climate variation, and human actions impact the ecological structure and function of kelp forests. UCSB will integrate studies of physical, chemical, and biological processes within and around kelp forests to better capture material exchange dynamics. The research findings will be synthesized through statistical, analytical, and numerical models combining long-term ecological and environmental data. This work will enhance knowledge of these ecologically and economically important coastal ecosystems and inform strategies to mitigate emerging threats. The grant period runs from December 1, 2024 to November 30, 2026, and the funding supports UCSB's research as well as subcontracted work.