Ecklonia radiata, commonly known as golden kelp, common kelp, spiny kelp or leather kelp, is a species of kelp found in the Canary Islands, the Cape Verde Islands, Madagascar, Mauritania, Senegal, South Africa, Oman, southern Australia, Lord Howe Island, and New Zealand.[3][4] In Australia, E. radiata forms the backbone of the Great Southern Reef, a system of interconnected kelp reefs that spans the coastline of southern Australia, underpinning biodiverse and productive ecosystems, and supporting valuable ecosystem services.[5]

Ecklonia radiata
Barangaroo, Australia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Diaphoretickes
Clade: SAR
Clade: Stramenopiles
Phylum: Gyrista
Subphylum: Ochrophytina
Class: Phaeophyceae
Order: Laminariales
Family: Lessoniaceae
Genus: Ecklonia
Species:
E. radiata
Binomial name
Ecklonia radiata
Synonyms[2]
  • Capea biruncinata var. denuda Sonder, 1846
  • Capea biruncinata var. elongata Sonder, 1846
  • Capea radiata (C.Agardh) Endlicher, 1843
  • Fucus radiatus Turner, 1808
  • Laminaria flabelliformis A.Richard, 1832
  • Laminaria radiata C.Agardh, 1817

Ecklonia radiata grows in kelp beds on reefs and where sheltered can form dense 'forests'.[6][4] It can be found in the low intertidal zone to depths of approximately 25 metres (82 ft) and rarely exceeds a body length of 1 metre (3 ft 3 in).[4]

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  1. ^ "Ecklonia radiata (C.Agardh.) J.Agardh". Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  2. ^ Guiry, Michael D. (2015). "Ecklonia radiata (C.Agardh) J.Agardh, 1848". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  3. ^ Guiry, M. D. (2019). "Ecklonia radiata (C.Agardh) J.Agardh :: Algaebase". www.algaebase.org. National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Nelson, W. A. (2013). New Zealand seaweeds : an illustrated guide. Wellington, New Zealand: Te Papa Press. p. 96. ISBN 9780987668813. OCLC 841897290.
  5. ^ Bennett, Wernberg; et al. (2016). "The 'Great Southern Reef': social, ecological and economic value of Australia's neglected kelp forests". Marine and Freshwater Research. 67: 47. doi:10.1071/mf15232.
  6. ^ Toohey, Benjamin D.; Kendrick, Gary A. (1 May 2008). "Canopy–understorey relationships are mediated by reef topography in Ecklonia radiata kelp beds". European Journal of Phycology. 43 (2): 133–142. doi:10.1080/09670260701770554 – via Researchgate.