Kelp Forest

Life on this planet grows in unusually distinct and diverse ecological biomes. Further study recommended. ― PDA, Dialogue

Kelp Forests are one of the most diverse biomes due to the range of fauna and flora that make their home in these areas. These biomes are characterized by the abundance of Creepvines and possess a distinct greenish hue in the water.

Description

The Kelp Forests are one of the most productive and dynamic ecosystems on Planet 4546B. They are also the primary homes of Stalkers and Hoverfish.

They are located at medium-shallow depths and are home to mostly passive life forms, with the only exceptions being Stalkers and Drooping Stingers. The seabeds are mostly mossy and sandy, with terrain comprised of grassy knolls and arches, which sometimes show entrances to small cave systems. There are also many canyons to be found in these forests. There is a lot of decorative flora on the sandy, grassy seabed.

Materials

Most of the raw materials found here are at medium-level depths, with many harvesting nodes such as Limestone and Sandstone. The Creepvine Seed Clusters, found on some Creepvines, provide light during eclipses and at night; they are also crucial ingredients for making Lubricant and Silicone Rubber.

There are five Kelp Forests on the map, some containing wrecks, a destroyed lifepod, or both. Large amounts of metal salvage can be found here due to the Stalkers' gathering behavior.

Dense Kelp Forest

Deeper areas of these biomes can transition into the Dense Kelp Forest. There, the water's hue possesses a darker shade of green than the normal Kelp Forest. Stalkers tend to gather metal salvage here and Mesmers may come out of nearby caves to lure the player in.

Points of Interest

All Data Boxes are found in Wrecks and Destroyed Lifepods:

• Compass
• Copper Ore
• Coral Tube Sample
• Creepvine Sample
• Creepvine Seed Cluster
• Gold
• Lead
• Metal Salvage
• Salt Deposit
• Silver Ore
• Stalker Egg
• Stalker Teeth
• Titanium

Fauna

• Bleeder
• Boomerang
• Eyeye
• Hoopfish
• Hoverfish
• Peeper
• Rabbit Ray
• Shoal of Fish
• Stalker

Flora

• Creepvine
• Drooping Stingers
• Membrain Tree
• Brain Coral
• Giant Coral Tubes

Fragments

All Scannables are found in Wrecks:

• Bench
• Desk
• Floodlight
• Swivel Chair
• Gallery
• Mobile Vehicle Bay Fragment
• Seaglide Fragment
• Beacon Fragment
• Bioreactor Fragment
• Grav Trap Fragments
• Mobile Vehicle Bay Fragments
• Stasis Rifle Fragment

Gallery

Overview

Ditto, at night

The Kelp Forest during night time, showing the Creepvine Seed Clusters' bioluminescence

Another view of the Kelp Forest at night

A Hoverfish wandering in the night, within the biome

A deeper area of the biome

Creepvines with glowing seed clusters in the Kelp Forest

Drooping Stingers found swaying in-between many cave entrances of the area

An overview of the shallower areas

An entrance to the Kelp Forest Caves

Stalkers roaming the Kelp Forest

Some life forms in the biome

A rock arch-like structure in the Kelp Forest

Another one of the rock formations in the Kelp Forest

Another rock formation in the area

A wreck in the Kelp Forest

Another wreck within the Kelp Forest

A view of the Dense Kelp Forest

From the seabed of the Kelp Forest

Transition from the Kelp Forest and the Safe Shallows

Borders with the Kelp Forest and the Grassy Plateaus

Transition with the Underwater Islands

Borders of the Kelp Forest and the Northeastern Mushroom Forest

Borders with the Mountains

Transition with the Crash Zone

Ditto, with the Aurora's boosters visible on the surface

The very slim borders between the Kelp Forest and the Crag Field

Transition between the Kelp Forest and the Grand Reef

The narrow borders shared by the Kelp Forest and the Sparse Reef

Transition with the Northwestern Mushroom Forest

Borders shared by the Kelp Forest and the Dunes, a Reaper Leviathan is visible in the background

Concept art

Trivia

• The Kelp forest ties with the Grassy Plateaus for the largest number of other biomes it borders: ten.
• There are five different Kelp Forests in the Crater: the northern and western one being the largest, while the smallest of the five can be found surrounded by the Safe Shallows and shares a small border with the northeastern Grassy Plateaus.
• All Kelp Forests combined, they share borders with; both Safe Shallows, all four Grassy Plateaus, both Mushroom Forests, the Underwater Islands, the Mountains, the Crag Field and Crash Zone, the Grand Reef, the Sparse Reef and finally the Dunes.