on North's publications for information 

 prior to 1971, and have also focused on 

 reviewing more current information. 



Chapter 1 discusses the aims and 

 organization of the profile in more 

 detail, and introduces the biology and 

 ecology of surface canopy kelps, especial- 

 ly Macrocystis pyrifera . Physical, 

 chemical, and geological aspects of the 

 kelp forest environment are reviewed in 

 Chapter- 2. Chapter 3 describes community 

 structure and energetics, while Chapter 4 

 reviews the natural history of organisms 

 in the community. Chapter 5 points out 

 some of the problems with our present 

 understanding of kelp forest ecology, sug- 

 gests research approaches that might solve 

 these problems, and critically examines 

 some current hypotheses concerning 

 community structure and dynamics. Chapter 

 6 examines resource use, management, and 

 pollution. Chapter 7 is a brief summary 

 and outlines research and management 

 needs. 



Much of the work reviewed concerns 

 ecology and natural history and, as a 

 result, the information available is not 

 always for a species. In Chapter 6 

 especially, taxonomic levels from species 

 (e.g., Strongy 1 ocentrotus f ranci scanus ) to 

 combined phyla (e.g. , sessile inverte- 

 brates) may be discussed in the same 

 paragraph. Although this is an uneven 

 treatment, it accurately reflects the 

 state of information for particular 

 organisms. Species are indicated where 

 possible. In addition, because many users 

 of this profile may be unfamiliar with 



local species, we have used widely 

 accepted common names, if available. The 

 scientific name is given with the common 

 name when the latter is first used. 

 Abbott and Hollenberg (1976; algae), 

 Morris et al. (1980; invertebrates) and 

 Miller and Lea (1972; fish) were used for 

 names unless otherwise noted in the text. 



The results of much kelp forest 

 research, particularly habitat surveys and 

 management problems, are published in 

 reports that are often cited, but general- 

 ly unreviewed and difficult to obtain. 

 Such reports and other secondary scien- 

 tific publications (theses, unpublished 

 manuscripts, etc.; see Day 1983 for the 

 definitions of "scientific papers") often 

 contain much useful information and are 

 frequently cited in this profile. The 

 interested reader should obtain and 

 evaluate these publications before using 

 the information summarized from them in 

 this profile. The names and addresses of 

 persons cited as personal communications 

 follow the references. 



Comments on, or requests for, this 

 profile should be addressed to: 



Information Transfer Specialist 

 National Coastal Ecosystems Team 

 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

 NASA-SI i del 1 Computer Complex 

 1010 Gause Boulevard 

 Slidell, LA 70458 

 504-255-6511, FTS 685-6511. 



TV 



