Ocean warming and herbivorous fish grazing drive kelp forest collapse along Japan's Izu Peninsula

The Quick Take

Kelp forests, ecosystems formed by large brown seaweeds in coastal waters, provide habitats for numerous fish and invertebrates and are vital to coastal productivity and carbon cycling. However, in recent years, kelp forests have declined throughout Japan, alongside the spread of "isoyake," a phenomenon in which rocky reefs become largely devoid of large seaweeds.