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At the southern tip of Africa...
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00:00:14,448 --> 00:00:17,050
withstanding the full might
of the Atlantic...
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00:00:19,419 --> 00:00:23,423
a tiny kelp plant
grows up to take its place
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00:00:23,423 --> 00:00:27,294
in a forest like no other.
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00:00:27,294 --> 00:00:29,263
Racing for the sun,
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00:00:29,263 --> 00:00:31,098
it provides a home
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00:00:31,098 --> 00:00:35,102
for the secretive animals
of this coast.
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00:00:35,102 --> 00:00:39,539
From sex-changing fish
and spiky nursemaids
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00:00:39,539 --> 00:00:42,442
to the show-offs of the forest -
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00:00:42,442 --> 00:00:44,578
and the ancient hunters
that stalk them.
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00:00:48,548 --> 00:00:53,320
All coming together to create
one of the most fertile zones
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00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:55,589
on the planet.
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00:00:55,589 --> 00:00:58,292
Africa's Golden Forest.
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00:01:00,193 --> 00:01:05,198
(♪♪♪)
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(♪♪♪)
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(♪♪♪)
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00:01:15,208 --> 00:01:16,376
(♪♪♪)
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00:01:43,503 --> 00:01:45,706
It's a busy morning
in the kelp forest.
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00:01:49,943 --> 00:01:54,581
In the canopy,
Cape fur seals play and explore,
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00:01:54,581 --> 00:01:57,384
safe from the predators
of the open ocean.
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00:01:59,419 --> 00:02:02,522
Further down,
among the stalks,
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00:02:02,522 --> 00:02:05,726
Roman fish
patrol their empires.
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00:02:05,726 --> 00:02:08,261
Among the roots of the forest,
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00:02:08,261 --> 00:02:11,631
urchins and rock lobster
scour the rocks for food.
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00:02:15,402 --> 00:02:20,540
Unseen by all of them, new kelp
plants are being born -
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00:02:20,540 --> 00:02:23,410
a unique species of giant algae.
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00:02:26,313 --> 00:02:28,548
In this underwater sanctuary,
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00:02:28,548 --> 00:02:31,551
thousands of tiny spores
are making their way
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00:02:31,551 --> 00:02:34,221
down to the ocean bed.
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00:02:44,231 --> 00:02:46,633
Every hour,
each square inch
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00:02:46,633 --> 00:02:48,735
of these gigantic blades
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00:02:48,735 --> 00:02:52,439
releases some
65,000 microscopic spores...
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00:02:54,307 --> 00:02:59,179
Resulting in tens of millions of
spores being launched every day.
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00:03:01,014 --> 00:03:05,685
Those that survive
will grow into adults,
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00:03:05,685 --> 00:03:07,454
expanding the forest
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00:03:07,454 --> 00:03:12,592
that fringes Africa's
south-western shore,
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00:03:12,592 --> 00:03:16,763
stretching from southern Angola
around the tip of the continent.
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00:03:21,535 --> 00:03:25,439
The huge extent and abundance
of the kelp forest
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00:03:25,439 --> 00:03:28,575
seems to contradict the
harshness of this landscape.
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00:03:31,478 --> 00:03:35,749
On land, life along this
Atlantic coast is a struggle.
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00:03:37,818 --> 00:03:43,457
And the animals
that live here, like Eland,
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00:03:43,457 --> 00:03:47,627
Springbok and reptiles,
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00:03:47,627 --> 00:03:52,232
have learned to get by with
little food and even less water.
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00:03:56,503 --> 00:03:59,272
The ocean, too, seems brutal.
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00:04:03,343 --> 00:04:07,347
The Atlantic is unforgiving:
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00:04:07,347 --> 00:04:11,785
whipped up by oceanic winds,
it breaks onto a rugged coast.
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00:04:14,387 --> 00:04:18,058
And yet it is these winds
that make the forest
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00:04:18,058 --> 00:04:20,393
such an abundant place
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00:04:20,393 --> 00:04:23,597
and allow marine life
to thrive along this shore.
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00:04:26,733 --> 00:04:28,568
Powerful south-easters
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00:04:28,568 --> 00:04:32,806
continually blast
the sea surface,
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00:04:32,806 --> 00:04:36,510
causing an upwelling of water
from the ocean depths.
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00:04:40,614 --> 00:04:45,118
Millions of years of plant
and animal matter has decayed
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00:04:45,118 --> 00:04:48,088
and dissolved
into this deep water,
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00:04:48,088 --> 00:04:50,724
and now it surges up
to the surface,
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00:04:50,724 --> 00:04:53,627
as an incredibly rich soup
of nutrients.
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00:04:58,532 --> 00:05:01,735
The compost heap
of the Atlantic is drawn up
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00:05:01,735 --> 00:05:04,437
and dumped directly
onto this forest.
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00:05:07,407 --> 00:05:12,712
And the result: enough food to
support a diverse range of life
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00:05:12,712 --> 00:05:15,415
and huge expanses of seaweed.
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00:05:36,503 --> 00:05:39,539
For the spores drifting
to the forest floor,
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00:05:39,539 --> 00:05:41,875
food will not be a problem.
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00:05:43,877 --> 00:05:47,681
But before they can fight
for a place in the canopy,
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00:05:47,681 --> 00:05:50,350
they must claim their space
down below.
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00:05:55,422 --> 00:05:58,625
A tiny new plant
has one job to do:
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00:05:58,625 --> 00:06:00,927
hold on for dear life.
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00:06:07,434 --> 00:06:11,605
Once settled,
it grows a holdfast,
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00:06:11,605 --> 00:06:15,642
a root-like structure that grips
onto the rocky outcrops
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00:06:15,642 --> 00:06:17,978
of the ocean bed.
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00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:24,651
But these are
no ordinary roots.
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00:06:24,651 --> 00:06:27,487
Unlike its earthbound relatives,
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00:06:27,487 --> 00:06:32,792
this little plant absorbs
no nutrients from the sea bed.
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00:06:32,792 --> 00:06:34,861
Everything it needs is supplied
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00:06:34,861 --> 00:06:40,533
by the water
and the sunlight above.
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00:06:40,533 --> 00:06:42,936
But if it's going to grow
into a giant adult
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00:06:42,936 --> 00:06:46,539
and reach the surface
it must first focus
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00:06:46,539 --> 00:06:49,009
all its energy into holding on.
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00:06:56,583 --> 00:06:59,886
The sturdier the rock
to which it is attached,
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00:06:59,886 --> 00:07:02,989
the better it can grip against
the sweep of the ocean.
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00:07:11,698 --> 00:07:16,603
But where the baby kelp
can't anchor, it can't grow
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00:07:16,603 --> 00:07:19,472
and this forest is dotted
with clearings.
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00:07:28,748 --> 00:07:30,917
They might look deserted,
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00:07:30,917 --> 00:07:34,854
but even a forest clearing
is inhabited.
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00:07:34,854 --> 00:07:39,059
Here, a sandy bottom
provides an ideal home
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00:07:39,059 --> 00:07:42,662
for one of this ocean's
more elusive predators.
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00:07:42,662 --> 00:07:47,267
The Short-tail stingray,
the largest in the world.
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00:07:47,267 --> 00:07:52,305
These solitary hunters
can reach a length of 13 feet
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00:07:52,305 --> 00:07:56,776
and weigh up to 770 pounds.
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00:07:56,776 --> 00:08:00,780
Their lethal stinger,
up to 12 inches long,
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00:08:00,780 --> 00:08:05,618
is easily capable
of killing a human.
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00:08:05,618 --> 00:08:09,322
Yet despite their size
and vicious blade,
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00:08:09,322 --> 00:08:11,791
these are docile animals,
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00:08:11,791 --> 00:08:15,628
quietly scouring the sand
for their favorite meal
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00:08:15,628 --> 00:08:18,865
of crustaceans
and hard-shelled mollusks.
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00:08:23,737 --> 00:08:28,908
Clearings on soft sand
are no use to young kelp,
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00:08:28,908 --> 00:08:33,046
but a clear spot on rocky
substrate is a different matter.
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00:08:34,848 --> 00:08:38,985
Boosting their chances of
finding the ideal landing zone
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00:08:38,985 --> 00:08:41,654
are smaller species of seaweed
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00:08:41,654 --> 00:08:44,624
that endlessly
sweep the forest floor clean.
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00:08:48,595 --> 00:08:51,898
But this sweeping is not
just good housekeeping.
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00:08:56,035 --> 00:08:59,806
Their lashing fronds
are also keeping at bay
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00:08:59,806 --> 00:09:02,742
a pack of particularly
voracious neighbors.
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00:09:07,647 --> 00:09:09,949
Sea urchins.
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00:09:13,086 --> 00:09:17,123
Living in large groups,
with as many as 50 urchins
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00:09:17,123 --> 00:09:19,826
crowding each square yard,
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00:09:19,826 --> 00:09:22,162
they slowly scour the sea bed,
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00:09:22,162 --> 00:09:25,765
grazing on young plants
and tasty holdfasts.
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00:09:27,834 --> 00:09:32,005
Their spikes ward off would-be
predators like starfish
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00:09:32,005 --> 00:09:35,842
and octopuses.
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00:09:35,842 --> 00:09:40,146
What's hidden beneath their body
is even more imposing:
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a small but ferocious mouth,
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00:09:43,116 --> 00:09:46,419
ringed with five
self-sharpening teeth
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00:09:46,419 --> 00:09:48,955
that make short work of kelp.
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00:09:52,659 --> 00:09:53,993
Left unchallenged,
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00:09:53,993 --> 00:09:57,864
they can decimate entire
expanses of young forest.
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00:10:11,978 --> 00:10:16,015
But one plant's predator is
another creature's protector.
117
00:10:18,151 --> 00:10:21,688
While the urchin presents
a life-threatening problem
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00:10:21,688 --> 00:10:23,890
to the young kelp plant,
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00:10:23,890 --> 00:10:29,128
they act as nursery nannies
for one rare cold-water snail:
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the abalone.
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00:10:30,196 --> 00:10:35,201
(♪♪♪)
122
00:10:35,201 --> 00:10:40,206
(♪♪♪)
123
00:10:40,206 --> 00:10:45,211
(♪♪♪)
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00:10:45,211 --> 00:10:47,914
(♪♪♪)
125
00:10:47,914 --> 00:10:51,751
(♪♪♪)
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00:10:51,751 --> 00:10:55,788
(♪♪♪)
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00:10:55,788 --> 00:10:58,925
They are part of the fabric
of this forest,
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00:10:58,925 --> 00:11:03,663
their shells are so overgrown
that they merge into the reef.
129
00:11:05,498 --> 00:11:09,869
Abalones are slow developers.
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00:11:09,869 --> 00:11:14,841
They're only ready to reproduce
when they're 8 years old.
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00:11:14,841 --> 00:11:18,077
Scientists believe
that the stimulus to spawn
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00:11:18,077 --> 00:11:21,114
is a sudden change
in water temperature.
133
00:11:21,114 --> 00:11:24,851
It's a remarkable event.
134
00:11:24,851 --> 00:11:28,121
Males release a cloud
of billions of sperm
135
00:11:28,121 --> 00:11:31,758
into the surrounding waters.
136
00:11:31,758 --> 00:11:34,494
When the cloud
reaches the female,
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00:11:34,494 --> 00:11:38,965
she gives a dramatic response:
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00:11:38,965 --> 00:11:42,235
powerful contractions
expel torrents of eggs
139
00:11:42,235 --> 00:11:44,137
into the water.
140
00:11:44,137 --> 00:11:49,976
Within a few minutes, millions
are released to be fertilized.
141
00:11:49,976 --> 00:11:55,281
The numbers are vast, but most
fertilized eggs will perish.
142
00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,990
This reproductive overkill
has a vital function.
143
00:12:07,093 --> 00:12:11,531
The odds are so heavily stacked
against survival:
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00:12:11,531 --> 00:12:15,168
it's the only way to ensure
a few eggs get the chance
145
00:12:15,168 --> 00:12:17,870
to develop into adults.
146
00:12:24,544 --> 00:12:27,747
The larvae swim close
to the ocean floor.
147
00:12:30,583 --> 00:12:32,986
They're incredibly vulnerable;
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00:12:32,986 --> 00:12:36,155
the perfect snack for filter
feeders like shrimps.
149
00:12:41,894 --> 00:12:45,031
But abalone larvae have
a remarkable alliance
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00:12:45,031 --> 00:12:47,200
with one forest-dweller:
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00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:50,036
the urchin.
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00:12:50,036 --> 00:12:54,040
The larvae are waiting for their
cue to attach to a rock.
153
00:12:57,010 --> 00:13:00,880
Their green light
is a chemical signal.
154
00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:04,917
Encrusting coralline algae
releases an amino acid
155
00:13:04,917 --> 00:13:08,021
into the water,
beckoning the abalone larvae
156
00:13:08,021 --> 00:13:10,923
to settle and start
to form a shell.
157
00:13:13,993 --> 00:13:17,130
And once they are ready
they meet their nursemaids.
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00:13:22,001 --> 00:13:24,070
Less than a half an inch long,
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00:13:24,070 --> 00:13:29,175
the abalone creep in under their
nanny's prickly petticoats.
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00:13:29,175 --> 00:13:32,645
Here they will be protected
from hungry octopuses,
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fish, starfish and crustaceans -
and get free nibbles
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dropped by the urchin
as it eats.
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00:13:42,221 --> 00:13:44,424
When the abalone
is strong enough,
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00:13:44,424 --> 00:13:48,227
they'll venture out from
under their spiny nursemaids
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00:13:48,227 --> 00:13:51,097
and grow thick,
camouflaged shells.
166
00:14:04,377 --> 00:14:07,914
It's a fragile equilibrium
on the forest floor.
167
00:14:10,283 --> 00:14:13,286
Too many urchins
grazing these rocks
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00:14:13,286 --> 00:14:15,988
and no young kelp plants
would survive.
169
00:14:19,325 --> 00:14:22,662
Too few urchins
and juvenile abalone
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00:14:22,662 --> 00:14:25,198
would be exposed to danger.
171
00:14:34,974 --> 00:14:38,277
Nature's system
is kept in balance.
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00:14:38,277 --> 00:14:42,482
And keeping the urchins in check
is their nemesis:
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the rock lobster.
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00:14:49,288 --> 00:14:52,692
The spiny defense
of the urchin is no match
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00:14:52,692 --> 00:14:56,062
for its formidable claws
and full-body armor.
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The rock lobster has earned
its tough reputation.
177
00:15:13,179 --> 00:15:15,515
And it started young.
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00:15:21,187 --> 00:15:24,490
While the abalone were
sheltering under their nannies,
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00:15:24,490 --> 00:15:28,060
this extraordinary animal
was embarking
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00:15:28,060 --> 00:15:31,931
on one of the most incredible
journeys of the natural world.
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00:15:34,734 --> 00:15:39,138
As soon as he hatched,
just 1/16th of an inch across,
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00:15:39,138 --> 00:15:42,408
he floated out
into the open ocean.
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00:15:42,408 --> 00:15:46,012
Drifting with the currents
for up to seven months,
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00:15:46,012 --> 00:15:49,182
still no more than
two inches long,
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00:15:49,182 --> 00:15:51,517
he journeyed in a great loop -
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00:15:51,517 --> 00:15:56,556
from Africa almost as far
as the South American coast
187
00:15:56,556 --> 00:16:00,226
before he rode the current
back home.
188
00:16:00,226 --> 00:16:02,762
By the time he returned
to the kelp forest,
189
00:16:02,762 --> 00:16:05,331
he had molted 11 times,
190
00:16:05,331 --> 00:16:10,069
shedding his carapace
again and again as he grew,
191
00:16:10,069 --> 00:16:13,339
until he had transformed
into a young adult.
192
00:16:15,241 --> 00:16:18,377
As soon as he arrived
in familiar waters,
193
00:16:18,377 --> 00:16:23,382
he set up camp in a crevice in
one of the vertical rock walls
194
00:16:23,382 --> 00:16:27,186
that define this submerged
landscape.
195
00:16:27,186 --> 00:16:31,390
Here he grew into
a formidable predator,
196
00:16:31,390 --> 00:16:33,392
with thick armor,
197
00:16:33,392 --> 00:16:37,129
a muscular tail
and powerful claws.
198
00:16:46,806 --> 00:16:50,376
He's not alone
in his rocky lair.
199
00:16:50,376 --> 00:16:54,146
Away from the surging sweep
of the forest floor,
200
00:16:54,146 --> 00:16:57,817
the water around this wall
is relatively still
201
00:16:57,817 --> 00:17:03,289
and steeped in microscopic
plant detritus.
202
00:17:03,289 --> 00:17:06,592
This allows filter feeders
to thrive here,
203
00:17:06,592 --> 00:17:09,829
from sea squirts
to anemones...
204
00:17:09,829 --> 00:17:13,366
soft corals to sponges.
205
00:17:13,366 --> 00:17:15,601
They're a convenient snack
for the lobster.
206
00:17:19,272 --> 00:17:24,210
But for him, the main benefit of
this perch is that it offers him
207
00:17:24,210 --> 00:17:26,646
relative safety
from a cunning hunter.
208
00:17:29,282 --> 00:17:35,221
A predator that is not only
agile, quick and dexterous,
209
00:17:35,221 --> 00:17:39,191
but is also considered by many
to be the most intelligent
210
00:17:39,191 --> 00:17:41,527
invertebrate on the planet.
211
00:17:47,500 --> 00:17:50,269
The octopus is a cephalopod,
212
00:17:50,269 --> 00:17:53,439
a word which translates
literally as
213
00:17:53,439 --> 00:17:56,175
"feet around the head".
214
00:17:56,175 --> 00:18:01,347
It's part of the mollusk family,
a distant relative of the snail.
215
00:18:05,384 --> 00:18:06,886
But there's nothing sluggish
216
00:18:06,886 --> 00:18:10,323
about this brilliant master
of camouflage.
217
00:18:10,323 --> 00:18:13,893
It can adapt the color
and texture of its skin
218
00:18:13,893 --> 00:18:16,429
to ambush its prey.
219
00:18:19,565 --> 00:18:25,571
And it has a taste
for rock lobster.
220
00:18:25,571 --> 00:18:29,909
Eight suckered arms
can prize open any shell...
221
00:18:29,909 --> 00:18:32,278
the lobster is wise
to back away...
222
00:18:55,968 --> 00:18:59,205
In the battle between
predator and prey,
223
00:18:59,205 --> 00:19:01,741
animals may vary the
color of their skin,
224
00:19:01,741 --> 00:19:05,277
like the octopus
or their body shape,
225
00:19:05,277 --> 00:19:08,280
like the rock lobster.
226
00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:09,749
But one animal undergoes
227
00:19:09,749 --> 00:19:13,285
the most dramatic transformation
of all:
228
00:19:13,285 --> 00:19:15,621
it changes its sex.
229
00:19:25,965 --> 00:19:29,268
Roman are territorial.
230
00:19:29,268 --> 00:19:33,639
This one's empire could be
up to 32,000 square feet,
231
00:19:33,639 --> 00:19:38,177
but it's worth putting in the
effort to defend its borders.
232
00:19:41,580 --> 00:19:44,617
This fish preys on
crustaceans,
233
00:19:44,617 --> 00:19:48,320
sea urchins
and even octopuses,
234
00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:50,322
and with a patch of this size,
235
00:19:50,322 --> 00:19:52,658
there is plenty of food
on offer.
236
00:20:04,470 --> 00:20:07,740
If it manages to keep
challengers at bay,
237
00:20:07,740 --> 00:20:10,609
it could be a long
and successful reign:
238
00:20:18,517 --> 00:20:21,220
Roman can live up to 30 years.
239
00:20:23,589 --> 00:20:28,360
Like all good emperors,
he protects his subjects,
240
00:20:28,360 --> 00:20:30,663
in this case,
smaller females.
241
00:20:32,698 --> 00:20:35,835
But he wasn't always emperor.
242
00:20:35,835 --> 00:20:39,705
In fact, he wasn't always
a male...
243
00:20:39,705 --> 00:20:42,675
once, he was a she.
244
00:20:44,076 --> 00:20:47,613
Roman are born as females,
245
00:20:47,613 --> 00:20:52,518
growing up under the watchful
eye of a protective male.
246
00:20:52,518 --> 00:20:55,654
Little more than
eight inches long,
247
00:20:55,654 --> 00:20:59,525
they are content to be
members of his harem.
248
00:20:59,525 --> 00:21:02,495
But as soon as they reach
twelve inches,
249
00:21:02,495 --> 00:21:04,797
the stunning change occurs.
250
00:21:06,765 --> 00:21:12,438
Females transform into males
by modifying their sex organs
251
00:21:12,438 --> 00:21:16,342
and suddenly
what was a quiet harem
252
00:21:16,342 --> 00:21:19,778
becomes a serious threat
to his crown.
253
00:21:19,778 --> 00:21:22,348
It's an effective strategy.
254
00:21:22,348 --> 00:21:28,120
Smaller males could never
compete with the emperor
255
00:21:28,120 --> 00:21:32,658
and so by remaining female
they benefit from his protection
256
00:21:32,658 --> 00:21:35,294
while they grow strong enough
to challenge him.
257
00:21:46,405 --> 00:21:52,511
When night falls, this male
will retreat to the rocky wall.
258
00:21:52,511 --> 00:21:57,316
But until then there are borders
to patrol, and worms to hunt.
259
00:22:06,525 --> 00:22:10,129
Sex change is an extreme
survival strategy.
260
00:22:10,129 --> 00:22:12,164
For other species, however,
261
00:22:12,164 --> 00:22:14,466
simply holding on tight
is enough.
262
00:22:19,605 --> 00:22:24,877
In this territorial forest,
the Roman might be an emperor,
263
00:22:24,877 --> 00:22:30,482
but this adult limpet
has its own kingdom to patrol:
264
00:22:30,482 --> 00:22:33,886
the growing stem
of the kelp plant,
265
00:22:33,886 --> 00:22:38,791
covered in the limpet's
staple diet of algae.
266
00:22:38,791 --> 00:22:44,463
Rival limpets are bulldozed
off the stem.
267
00:22:44,463 --> 00:22:47,466
But some neighbors
are tolerated.
268
00:22:47,466 --> 00:22:51,570
Kelp snails are only after
the blades of the plant
269
00:22:51,570 --> 00:22:55,874
and don't compete for the food
on the stem.
270
00:22:55,874 --> 00:22:59,178
The limpet moves imperceptibly,
271
00:22:59,178 --> 00:23:02,481
rippling its muscular foot
hidden beneath its shell.
272
00:23:04,950 --> 00:23:09,922
To eat, it scrapes the algae off
the kelp stem with its radula,
273
00:23:09,922 --> 00:23:15,694
a ribbon-like tongue
with rows of teeth.
274
00:23:15,694 --> 00:23:21,200
The limpet has adapted to live
exclusively on this plant.
275
00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:23,569
The shell of an adult limpet
276
00:23:23,569 --> 00:23:27,539
is shaped to fit
its cylindrical home.
277
00:23:27,539 --> 00:23:31,543
As young ones, they hide
at the base of the fronds
278
00:23:31,543 --> 00:23:33,812
only moving out onto the stem
279
00:23:33,812 --> 00:23:36,849
when they are big enough
to graze and claim ownership.
280
00:23:39,752 --> 00:23:44,623
It's a large kingdom
for a tiny limpet to patrol
281
00:23:44,623 --> 00:23:47,793
and each day his territory
is growing bigger.
282
00:24:07,279 --> 00:24:09,715
Kelp grows at
an incredible rate.
283
00:24:12,618 --> 00:24:14,920
Light powers the Golden Forest
284
00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:17,623
and it needs to get its
chlorophyll-producing fronds
285
00:24:17,623 --> 00:24:20,993
to the surface
as quickly as possible.
286
00:24:20,993 --> 00:24:23,696
As it races towards
the sunlight,
287
00:24:23,696 --> 00:24:26,665
it can shoot up by
half an inch a day.
288
00:24:28,567 --> 00:24:32,604
No wonder this type of kelp
called the bamboo of the ocean.
289
00:24:34,673 --> 00:24:36,975
The little plant
that drifted down here
290
00:24:36,975 --> 00:24:42,981
and locked onto the rocks
has done well.
291
00:24:42,981 --> 00:24:46,952
Now it is well on the way
to growing to a height
292
00:24:46,952 --> 00:24:49,755
of around 39 feet.
293
00:24:49,755 --> 00:24:53,025
Enormously tall in relation
to its narrow trunk...
294
00:24:56,295 --> 00:25:01,633
this forest tree has developed
a unique way to stay upright:
295
00:25:01,633 --> 00:25:06,071
the stems are hollow
and supported by gas bladders
296
00:25:06,071 --> 00:25:08,774
called pneumatocysts.
297
00:25:08,774 --> 00:25:12,911
The blades, too,
are kept afloat.
298
00:25:12,911 --> 00:25:16,915
A floating bulb just beneath
the head of the plant
299
00:25:16,915 --> 00:25:20,919
makes sure that the blades are
held up to the precious light
300
00:25:20,919 --> 00:25:23,589
at all times.
301
00:25:24,656 --> 00:25:29,928
Ultimately all life here owes
its existence to photosynthesis,
302
00:25:29,928 --> 00:25:32,598
from algae to apex predators.
303
00:25:36,935 --> 00:25:40,973
And enjoying life in the middle
of this dynamic food chain
304
00:25:40,973 --> 00:25:44,076
are the forest's most
charismatic creatures.
305
00:25:44,076 --> 00:25:49,081
(♪♪♪)
306
00:25:49,081 --> 00:25:54,086
(♪♪♪)
307
00:25:54,086 --> 00:25:59,091
(♪♪♪)
308
00:25:59,091 --> 00:26:04,096
(♪♪♪)
309
00:26:04,096 --> 00:26:08,167
(♪♪♪)
310
00:26:08,167 --> 00:26:10,969
South African fur seals.
311
00:26:10,969 --> 00:26:13,705
The show-offs
of the Golden Forest.
312
00:26:18,010 --> 00:26:21,780
They thrive here
in huge numbers,
313
00:26:21,780 --> 00:26:26,852
living on the same rocky
coastlines carpeted by kelp
314
00:26:26,852 --> 00:26:31,590
and fed by the same bounty that
nourishes the Golden Forest.
315
00:26:46,405 --> 00:26:51,009
For youngsters, identifiable
by their darker pelts,
316
00:26:51,009 --> 00:26:53,679
the forest is a playground.
317
00:26:58,717 --> 00:27:02,087
They're having fun,
but they're also learning skills
318
00:27:02,087 --> 00:27:05,457
that will mean the difference
between life and death.
319
00:27:05,457 --> 00:27:10,462
(♪♪♪)
320
00:27:10,462 --> 00:27:15,467
(♪♪♪)
321
00:27:15,467 --> 00:27:20,472
(♪♪♪)
322
00:27:20,472 --> 00:27:25,477
(♪♪♪)
323
00:27:25,477 --> 00:27:28,013
(♪♪♪)
324
00:27:28,013 --> 00:27:33,018
(♪♪♪)
325
00:27:33,018 --> 00:27:37,956
(♪♪♪)
326
00:27:37,956 --> 00:27:42,060
Soon they will be old enough to
leave the protection of the kelp
327
00:27:42,060 --> 00:27:46,164
and venture out into the
Atlantic to hunt for fish,
328
00:27:46,164 --> 00:27:49,034
squid and crabs.
329
00:27:49,034 --> 00:27:54,873
When they do, they will be
entering dangerous waters -
330
00:27:54,873 --> 00:27:58,744
the territory of the ocean's
ultimate predator:
331
00:27:58,744 --> 00:28:01,079
the Great White shark.
332
00:28:08,120 --> 00:28:13,992
This abundant ocean provides
plenty of food for the seals;
333
00:28:13,992 --> 00:28:18,497
adult males can grow
to be over six feet long
334
00:28:18,497 --> 00:28:21,266
and weigh up to 660 pounds.
335
00:28:23,936 --> 00:28:29,074
But even the biggest seal
is no match for a 16-foot,
336
00:28:29,074 --> 00:28:33,512
one-ton Great White
swimming at a top speed
337
00:28:33,512 --> 00:28:36,014
of 31 miles an hour.
338
00:28:39,985 --> 00:28:42,154
The super-predators
have perfected
339
00:28:42,154 --> 00:28:44,256
their hunting techniques,
340
00:28:44,256 --> 00:28:48,527
often attacking seals from below
with such force
341
00:28:48,527 --> 00:28:53,065
that they can breach
the surface of the water.
342
00:28:53,065 --> 00:28:56,868
Once a seal is caught,
escape is extremely unlikely.
343
00:29:01,807 --> 00:29:05,243
In many instances,
it takes less than two minutes
344
00:29:05,243 --> 00:29:08,747
from the first impact
until the victim has been eaten.
345
00:29:13,151 --> 00:29:16,888
To survive, these animals
will need agility
346
00:29:16,888 --> 00:29:21,293
and lightning-quick reflexes.
347
00:29:21,293 --> 00:29:25,097
The open water is still too
scary for the youngest pups.
348
00:29:29,968 --> 00:29:33,238
While the teenagers play
in the deeper water,
349
00:29:33,238 --> 00:29:35,907
they hang back in the canopy.
350
00:29:42,314 --> 00:29:46,351
Close to their
low-lying island home,
351
00:29:46,351 --> 00:29:50,322
the seals can use the
upper canopy as day-care
352
00:29:50,322 --> 00:29:54,192
for their pups,
as they go out to hunt.
353
00:29:54,192 --> 00:29:57,329
Baby seals have to
learn how to swim
354
00:29:57,329 --> 00:30:00,399
and this shallow zone
is a safe paddling pool
355
00:30:00,399 --> 00:30:04,202
for the youngsters making
their first tentative outings
356
00:30:04,202 --> 00:30:06,905
into the sea.
357
00:30:09,875 --> 00:30:13,078
But further out,
the forest's dense cover
358
00:30:13,078 --> 00:30:16,248
is a double-edge sword.
359
00:30:16,248 --> 00:30:21,119
If it can hide seals,
it can also hide predators.
360
00:30:22,888 --> 00:30:25,157
Great White sharks tend to avoid
361
00:30:25,157 --> 00:30:27,926
swimming into dense underwater
vegetation.
362
00:30:31,663 --> 00:30:34,399
But there are other hunters
in these waters
363
00:30:34,399 --> 00:30:37,169
that haunt the thick kelp.
364
00:30:37,169 --> 00:30:40,305
Which might explain
this peculiar behavior.
365
00:30:42,441 --> 00:30:46,378
It seems nothing more than
playful vandalism,
366
00:30:46,378 --> 00:30:50,248
but there may
be more to this than fun.
367
00:30:50,248 --> 00:30:54,986
One possible theory is that
this game of cropping kelp
368
00:30:54,986 --> 00:30:59,991
might reduce the chance of
surprise attacks by sharks.
369
00:30:59,991 --> 00:31:02,661
By clearing kelp
from certain areas
370
00:31:02,661 --> 00:31:05,330
and opening up sight-lines,
371
00:31:05,330 --> 00:31:09,067
it is possible that seals
will be able to spot
372
00:31:09,067 --> 00:31:11,670
an approaching predator sooner
373
00:31:11,670 --> 00:31:14,940
and will have precious seconds
to flee.
374
00:31:14,940 --> 00:31:18,677
For now, though,
these seals are safe to play.
375
00:31:18,677 --> 00:31:22,180
A favorite game:
tormenting a potential meal.
376
00:31:26,118 --> 00:31:29,988
The lobster
is wise to play dead.
377
00:31:29,988 --> 00:31:34,459
His sharp claws can give seals
a painful pinch
378
00:31:34,459 --> 00:31:37,295
and they're
handling him with care.
379
00:31:37,295 --> 00:31:41,133
But even with his claws
and tough shell
380
00:31:41,133 --> 00:31:44,035
he's unlikely to
come away from this unscathed.
381
00:31:58,049 --> 00:31:59,718
Not that everything that wanders
382
00:31:59,718 --> 00:32:03,221
into this forest
is edible, though.
383
00:32:03,221 --> 00:32:07,359
This box jellyfish might look
like a treat to the adults
384
00:32:07,359 --> 00:32:09,494
and a toy to the babies,
385
00:32:09,494 --> 00:32:13,265
but all the seals know
that it packs a vicious sting.
386
00:32:16,735 --> 00:32:19,171
It swims on, unharmed.
387
00:32:26,111 --> 00:32:29,481
But the seals must
stay on their guard
388
00:32:29,481 --> 00:32:33,151
because another stealthy
visitor is slipping
389
00:32:33,151 --> 00:32:35,487
into the forest unseen...
390
00:32:40,225 --> 00:32:43,495
Sharks are some of the most
ancient animals in the ocean.
391
00:32:45,363 --> 00:32:50,168
Supremely equipped to survive
in a variety of conditions,
392
00:32:50,168 --> 00:32:52,037
they have changed very little
393
00:32:52,037 --> 00:32:54,773
over hundreds of millions
of years.
394
00:32:54,773 --> 00:32:59,578
And one of the most primitive
of all shark species is this -
395
00:32:59,578 --> 00:33:02,247
the cow shark.
396
00:33:02,247 --> 00:33:07,252
(♪♪♪)
397
00:33:07,252 --> 00:33:12,257
(♪♪♪)
398
00:33:12,257 --> 00:33:17,262
(♪♪♪)
399
00:33:17,262 --> 00:33:22,267
(♪♪♪)
400
00:33:22,267 --> 00:33:26,404
(♪♪♪)
401
00:33:26,404 --> 00:33:30,208
With is seven gills
and smoothed features
402
00:33:30,208 --> 00:33:35,113
it would look at home
in ancient seas.
403
00:33:35,113 --> 00:33:39,150
The cow sharks have come here
to hunt seals,
404
00:33:39,150 --> 00:33:41,620
but beyond the
protection of the forest
405
00:33:41,620 --> 00:33:45,090
they, too, are at the mercy
of the Great Whites.
406
00:33:49,828 --> 00:33:53,531
For one, a horrific reminder
of what happens
407
00:33:53,531 --> 00:33:58,503
when predator becomes prey:
408
00:33:58,503 --> 00:34:03,208
most of its tail
has been bitten off.
409
00:34:03,208 --> 00:34:06,444
Without the ability
to maneuver or accelerate,
410
00:34:06,444 --> 00:34:09,180
hunting will be difficult.
411
00:34:09,180 --> 00:34:12,317
It might even starve.
412
00:34:12,317 --> 00:34:16,187
Unlikely to escape larger,
faster sharks,
413
00:34:16,187 --> 00:34:18,456
its next brush
with a Great White
414
00:34:18,456 --> 00:34:21,192
will almost certainly
be its last.
415
00:34:23,128 --> 00:34:26,598
Here, at least, it finds
temporary sanctuary.
416
00:34:26,598 --> 00:34:29,634
Among the soaring stalks,
it is safe.
417
00:34:57,162 --> 00:35:00,465
Kelp is a sun-loving giant.
418
00:35:00,465 --> 00:35:04,636
Photosynthesis is the life blood
of this forest
419
00:35:04,636 --> 00:35:08,239
and up here in the canopy
is where the work is done.
420
00:35:15,180 --> 00:35:19,384
The blades are multi-dimensional
synthesizers:
421
00:35:19,384 --> 00:35:23,722
there is no top
or bottom side.
422
00:35:23,722 --> 00:35:26,391
It makes no difference
how wildly
423
00:35:26,391 --> 00:35:28,927
the ocean waves thrash them;
424
00:35:28,927 --> 00:35:33,264
the entire surface of the fronds
can take part in photosynthesis.
425
00:35:38,937 --> 00:35:42,374
It is an endlessly
renewable engine
426
00:35:42,374 --> 00:35:45,677
that keeps the entire
ecosystem running.
427
00:35:45,677 --> 00:35:49,180
But more than that,
it is a life-saving shield.
428
00:35:54,986 --> 00:36:00,425
The waves that roll in off the
Atlantic are highly destructive.
429
00:36:00,425 --> 00:36:04,295
Each surge is packed with energy
430
00:36:04,295 --> 00:36:06,631
and when they collide
with the shore
431
00:36:06,631 --> 00:36:10,502
they release that power
in an unrelenting bombardment.
432
00:36:22,313 --> 00:36:24,716
But where the kelp forest
thrives,
433
00:36:24,716 --> 00:36:28,420
it creates a huge buffer.
434
00:36:28,420 --> 00:36:31,756
Instead of hitting the rocks
with their full force,
435
00:36:31,756 --> 00:36:36,628
the waves and their energy
are absorbed and diffused.
436
00:36:36,628 --> 00:36:39,798
By the time the Atlantic
reaches the shore,
437
00:36:39,798 --> 00:36:43,768
its destructive power
has been subdued
438
00:36:43,768 --> 00:36:46,638
and instead of wrecking
the coast,
439
00:36:46,638 --> 00:36:49,340
it brings a bonanza of food.
440
00:36:51,676 --> 00:36:55,613
Species that would otherwise be
washed away can flourish
441
00:36:55,613 --> 00:36:58,283
in the intertidal zone.
442
00:37:01,019 --> 00:37:03,455
Marine creatures
are not the only ones
443
00:37:03,455 --> 00:37:08,359
that owe their success
to the kelp.
444
00:37:08,359 --> 00:37:11,763
Evidence suggests that
it was access to shellfish
445
00:37:11,763 --> 00:37:14,032
along southern Africa's coasts
446
00:37:14,032 --> 00:37:16,568
that enabled early humans
to thrive -
447
00:37:19,337 --> 00:37:24,676
A protein-rich diet that helped
to increase their brain power.
448
00:37:24,676 --> 00:37:28,379
Without kelp, the shellfish
might not have flourished
449
00:37:28,379 --> 00:37:32,517
on the rocky shores and without
shellfish to harvest,
450
00:37:32,517 --> 00:37:35,086
our ancestors might
not have developed
451
00:37:35,086 --> 00:37:38,456
their most potent tool:
the human brain.
452
00:37:43,795 --> 00:37:48,399
Kelp is tough, but sometimes
the Atlantic wins.
453
00:37:50,668 --> 00:37:52,670
Pounded to breaking point,
454
00:37:52,670 --> 00:37:56,674
some plants are torn free
and tossed up onto the shore.
455
00:38:02,547 --> 00:38:06,384
But even in death, they support
the life of this coast.
456
00:38:14,526 --> 00:38:17,095
Sand hoppers appear
from underground
457
00:38:17,095 --> 00:38:19,631
to feast on the rotting kelp.
458
00:38:23,668 --> 00:38:26,905
Up to 25,000
of these tiny animals
459
00:38:26,905 --> 00:38:30,575
squeeze into every
square foot of this beach -
460
00:38:30,575 --> 00:38:33,578
all sustained by
the rotting kelp banquet.
461
00:38:35,113 --> 00:38:37,916
There's plenty to go around:
462
00:38:37,916 --> 00:38:39,517
sand hoppers eat up to
463
00:38:39,517 --> 00:38:42,787
700 pounds of kelp
every year.
464
00:38:54,732 --> 00:38:56,901
They're not the only creatures
tucking in.
465
00:38:59,804 --> 00:39:02,874
Once it's dark,
giant isopods emerge.
466
00:39:12,884 --> 00:39:17,522
These large crustaceans,
related to crabs and shrimp,
467
00:39:17,522 --> 00:39:20,592
have lain buried near
the high-tide mark.
468
00:39:24,596 --> 00:39:27,966
Now, they too
join the feeding frenzy -
469
00:39:27,966 --> 00:39:32,604
yet another species kept alive
by this incredible plant.
470
00:39:32,604 --> 00:39:37,609
(♪♪♪)
471
00:39:37,609 --> 00:39:42,614
(♪♪♪)
472
00:39:42,614 --> 00:39:47,619
(♪♪♪)
473
00:39:47,619 --> 00:39:52,624
(♪♪♪)
474
00:39:52,624 --> 00:39:57,629
(♪♪♪)
475
00:39:57,629 --> 00:40:02,634
(♪♪♪)
476
00:40:02,634 --> 00:40:07,639
(♪♪♪)
477
00:40:07,639 --> 00:40:09,941
(♪♪♪)
478
00:40:13,211 --> 00:40:18,216
(♪♪♪)
479
00:40:18,216 --> 00:40:21,886
(♪♪♪)
480
00:40:21,886 --> 00:40:25,723
(♪♪♪)
481
00:40:25,723 --> 00:40:29,560
(♪♪♪)
482
00:40:29,560 --> 00:40:32,697
It's not only the shore
and the kelp that benefit
483
00:40:32,697 --> 00:40:34,465
from the Atlantic upwelling.
484
00:40:41,806 --> 00:40:46,644
Nutrient-rich waters also feed
huge schools of pelagic fish,
485
00:40:46,644 --> 00:40:48,980
such as anchovy.
486
00:40:51,015 --> 00:40:54,619
And a school of anchovy
is a feast for a super-pod
487
00:40:54,619 --> 00:40:56,954
of dolphins.
488
00:41:14,706 --> 00:41:18,543
The Golden Forest
is a world in balance -
489
00:41:18,543 --> 00:41:21,946
a buffer against
the violence of the ocean
490
00:41:21,946 --> 00:41:24,615
and home for fragile animals.
491
00:41:28,853 --> 00:41:32,957
But every year or two,
for a few grim days,
492
00:41:32,957 --> 00:41:37,495
this underwater
heaven transforms into hell.
493
00:41:43,634 --> 00:41:48,606
The oceans are full of algae,
but sometimes
494
00:41:48,606 --> 00:41:52,910
some microscopic
species grow out of control,
495
00:41:52,910 --> 00:41:56,581
reproducing in huge
and unsustainable numbers.
496
00:41:59,016 --> 00:42:02,019
Here on the southwestern coast
of Africa,
497
00:42:02,019 --> 00:42:04,589
these harmful algal blooms
498
00:42:04,589 --> 00:42:08,926
are caused by a sudden lull
in the winds.
499
00:42:08,926 --> 00:42:11,929
With huge volumes
of nutrients in the water,
500
00:42:11,929 --> 00:42:14,932
but no wind
to stir the surface,
501
00:42:14,932 --> 00:42:18,870
algae multiply dramatically,
devouring oxygen.
502
00:42:22,940 --> 00:42:26,811
The murky water
has become anoxic:
503
00:42:26,811 --> 00:42:30,681
the animals of the Golden Forest
are being suffocated to death.
504
00:42:38,923 --> 00:42:44,695
Desperate, they go to the one
place with plenty of air -
505
00:42:44,695 --> 00:42:47,565
but it's the one place
they can't survive.
506
00:42:55,973 --> 00:42:59,911
The seagulls gorge
until they can't eat any more.
507
00:43:10,721 --> 00:43:14,058
Harmful algal blooms
are an apocalyptic event
508
00:43:14,058 --> 00:43:16,727
in the Golden Forest.
509
00:43:41,152 --> 00:43:44,889
And yet, for all
the destruction they cause,
510
00:43:44,889 --> 00:43:46,924
they cannot kill
the forest itself.
511
00:43:53,998 --> 00:43:55,800
The kelp survives;
512
00:43:55,800 --> 00:43:59,904
ready to nurture new life
around its stalks and fronds.
513
00:44:08,446 --> 00:44:10,448
The upwelling continues
514
00:44:10,448 --> 00:44:13,150
and the nutrients
flood the coast once again.
515
00:44:16,487 --> 00:44:18,689
The forest is resilient.
516
00:44:24,262 --> 00:44:27,732
The plant that started
as a tiny spore
517
00:44:27,732 --> 00:44:30,701
is itself flooding
the ocean with spores.
518
00:44:34,038 --> 00:44:38,809
Soon a new kelp plant will
anchor itself onto these rocks.
519
00:44:41,279 --> 00:44:44,148
The Golden Forest
will be renewed.
520
00:44:54,125 --> 00:44:56,494
In the teeth of the south wind
521
00:44:56,494 --> 00:44:59,830
and the pounding waves
of the Atlantic,
522
00:44:59,830 --> 00:45:02,166
kelp is more
than just a plant.
523
00:45:05,937 --> 00:45:08,306
It is a nursery...
524
00:45:08,306 --> 00:45:10,975
a provider...
525
00:45:12,977 --> 00:45:15,313
a hunting ground...
526
00:45:18,115 --> 00:45:20,785
a playground.
527
00:45:23,521 --> 00:45:26,157
Africa's Golden Forest.
528
00:45:26,157 --> 00:45:28,326
A world beneath the waves.
41250
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