Underwater Ranger

Underwater park rangers at Channel Islands National Park start their days by putting on 45 kilograms (100 pounds) of scuba gear. They then dive into the chilly ocean that surrounds the five islands, located off the coast of Southern California. It’s the rangers’ job to protect the park’s marine resources, which means they spend a lot of time in the water.

The Channel Islands are home to one of North America’s most biologically diverse ocean ecosystems—communities of organisms interacting with their physical environment. One of the islands’ distinguishing features is their underwater kelp forests. Dive rangers are responsible for monitoring these areas, which are dominated by a dense growth of kelp, a type of seaweed.

While diving, the rangers also host virtual field trips for students. With the help of an underwater camera and microphone, students can watch live and even ask questions in real time as rangers work. To learn more, Science World spoke with former Channel Islands underwater ranger Kelly Moore about her job safeguarding sea life.

Kelp forests are one of the most unique places on the planet. This dynamic ecosystem in the park supports a huge range of marine organisms. More than 1,000 species live there, including 150 found nowhere else on Earth.5

Kelp forests have another vital function. Seaweeds are algae. These aquatic organisms provide much of the oxygen we breathe every day. Like plants, algae rely on photosynthesis. This process uses sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide gas into oxygen and sugar that they use for energy.

Today’s kelp forests face many threats. For example, kelp thrives in cool, nutrient-rich water. But oceans are warming. Climate change is the biggest contributor to rising ocean temperatures. But big storms and occasional ocean temperature fluctuations called El Niño events also play a role.