Kelp biotopes, with their enormous numbers of species, high biomass and high rates of productivity will be important nursery areas for a diverse range of species. It is likely that juvenile forms of all the animals that are present as adults in the kelp bed make use of the habitat as a nursery area. Rinde et al. (1992) state that the kelp beds in Norway are a nursery area for gadoid species. In addition, unknown numbers of species may make use of the kelp beds during only a part of their life cycle and the temporary nature of their presence may mean that they do not appear in species survey data sets. Specific information on the extent to which UK kelp biotopes are used as nursery areas for animal species is not known.

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