Kelps are large brown seaweeds that can grow to be several metres tall. They have erect trunk-like stems, or stipes, which hold their strap-like leaves, or fronds, up towards the light. Where there are not too many grazers huge forests will grow and like forests on land, will be home to a vast selection of wildlife. Some wildlife lives in the canopy such as animals called hydroids and bryozoans that grow attached to kelp fronds and are fed upon by colourful sea slugs.
Large territorial fish called ballan wrasse weave around the stipes in search of food such as crabs and sea snails whilst edible sea urchins graze the forest floor and even the stipes themselves. On the shaded forest floor only small red seaweeds will grow and they will need to compete for space with animals such as anemones, sea squirts and sponges.
