Fig 6. Export potential of kelp carbon with temperature and latitude.

Relationships between export potential of kelp material to the deep ocean and (A) temperature at the sea floor and (B) latitude at our study sites. Export potential represents the percent of detrital material that could cross the shelf break (200 m isobath) and sink to the deep sea, which was calculated using decomposition rates and average coastal residence times (days) simulated for each site location [46] (S4 Fig). (C) Predicted changes in export based on predicted sea surface temperature increase under short-term (2020–2050) RCP4.5 and long-term (2070–2100) RCP8.5 scenario in the north polar and northern subtropical regions [50]. Colors (A, B) show regions and fitted lines shows generalized linear model with log link function, with 95% confidence interval shaded (Data E in S1 Data).