Ecology and triathlon?

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My Cup of Joe » Ecology and triathlon?

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newbiedoo

2005-08-03 10:03 AM

Subject: Ecology and triathlon?

I'm preparing to do an OW swim in Sept. that goes right through a kelp bed. The nature lover in me wonders about the damage done to the kelp beds and the impact of all those swimmers plowing through that delicate system. In the event liturature they say that to swim through kelp you should grab ahold of it and pull yourself along. Sounds like the kelp would get pretty torn up after all that?

The kelp beds are the home to threatened sea otters.

I woke up this morning feeling all guilty about this. Like, can't we find a more responsible way to do our sport without barging through an unsuspecting ecosystem?

What sort of consideration to plant/animal habitat is really taken in event planning? Is this indulgent human sport at the expense of wildlife habitat?

misscullen

2005-08-03 10:46 AM

in reply to: #214961

Sydney Australia

Subject:

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run4yrlif

2005-08-03 11:06 AM

in reply to: #214961

Giver

18427

Subject: RE: Ecology and triathlon?

newbiedoo - 2005-08-03 10:03 AM I'm preparing to do an OW swim in Sept. that goes right through a kelp bed. The nature lover in me wonders about the damage done to the kelp beds and the impact of all those swimmers plowing through that delicate system. In the event liturature they say that to swim through kelp you should grab ahold of it and pull yourself along. Sounds like the kelp would get pretty torn up after all that? The kelp beds are the home to threatened sea otters. I woke up this morning feeling all guilty about this. Like, can't we find a more responsible way to do our sport without barging through an unsuspecting ecosystem? What sort of consideration to plant/animal habitat is really taken in event planning? Is this indulgent human sport at the expense of wildlife habitat?

Misscullen's right, don't sweat it. Kelp grows something like a foot a day. In California, there are big boats that are basically kelp lawnmowers. They harvest it for food, but also to extract a chemical called algin, which is used as a thickener in all sorts of household products (toothpaste, ice cream, cosmetics).

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nliedel

2005-08-03 11:48 AM

in reply to: #215044

Master

1889

Ann Arbor, MI

Subject: RE: Ecology and triathlon?

Wow, that is some kewl info Misscullen!

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misscullen

2005-08-03 12:34 PM

in reply to: #215104

Sydney Australia

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TH3_FRB

2005-08-04 3:34 PM

in reply to: #215018

Pro

3870

Virginia Beach, VA

Subject: RE: Ecology and triathlon?

Wanna get even further down the chain? Humans are responsible for the whole mess. Through a combination of oceanic climate change and severe overfishing of commercially valuable fish stocks we have reduced the amount of food available to some predators, specifically certain stocks of orcas (killer whales). These orcas have adapted by shifting their diet from fish to other mammals (those cute otters) which lead to a reduction in the otter population and the resulting increase of urchins...and the subsequent devastation of kelp forests. The orca/otter/urchin/kelp food chain is a classic example of how top-down impacts can ripple through the entire ecosystem.

- 2005-08-03 11:46 AM

SO! A decrease in otters leads to an increase in urchins which leads to a decrease in Kelp.. and that is why they are in danger. Your interaction with them will not hurt the kelp beyond repair, as long as the "roots" are intact, then it is still alive..

YEAH! go random electives!

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ChrisM

2005-08-04 4:10 PM

in reply to: #214961

Subject: RE: Ecology and triathlon?

Wow, great responses on this thread, especially missucllen and TH3. Yeah, kelp can grow feet in a day, and frankly, a kelp bed that is there today may or may not be there tomorrow due to weather, sea conditions, temps, etc. You swimming through the top layer isn't going to do any damage at all.

BTW, I love kelp, it's my favorite thing to photograph....