Jaide Phelps1, Katrin Iken1
1Department of Marine Biology, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
Correspondence: Jaide Phelps, jtphelps@alaska.edu
The Arctic is experiencing rapid rates of environmental change due to ramifications of climate change and human development. Changes to the natural environment can enhance the impact of abiotic stressors such as sedimentation from enhanced river discharge, permafrost melt, coastal erosion, or construction activities in Arctic ecosystems. High rates of sedimentation can be detrimental to kelp abundance and distribution, possibly due to increased mortality at the spore dispersal and settlement stage. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of sedimentation on spore settlement and viability of the endemic Arctic kelp Laminaria solidungula through a series of lab-based experiments. We hypothesized that spore settlement and viability decrease under increasing sediment loads. Reproductive L. solidungula individuals were collected from the Stefansson Sound Boulder Patch in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea and cultured until the induction of spore release. Spores were exposed to increasing sediment loads in three experimental designs simulating different sedimentation scenarios. Settled spores and developing gametophytes were quantified at the completion of each experiment. Gradual sediment effects on spore settlement were observed. Due to rapid advances of climate change and interest in oil and gas development near well-studied L. solidungula kelp habitat in the Arctic, it is important to gain better understanding of how increased sedimentation will affect L. solidungula recruitment, and, thus, the long-term persistence of a diverse and productive benthic habitat.