Blueprints for restoration: Molecular monitoring and remote sensing support dispersal‐driven kelp recolonization

Nearshore marine habitats generate services worth billions of dollars, yet they are undergoing rapid, widespread degradation worldwide. Along northern California's coastline, a key habitat‐forming annual species, bull kelp ( Nereocystis luetkeana ), has experienced historic declines of up to 95%. These losses have prompted efforts to uncover the mechanisms that influence kelp forest recovery, with the goal of restoring degraded habitats. Zoospore dispersal between neighboring populations is thought to be a key driver of recovery, yet the degree to which spore supply limits recolonization remains unresolved. A long‐standing debate centers on whether persistent “gametophyte banks” fuel post‐disturbance regrowth or whether recovery depends primarily on newly settled zoospores. To address this question, we combined high‐resolution PlanetScope satellite imagery with molecular quantification of kelp gametophyte densities to assess how habitat connectivity influences recolonization. Connectivity to extant kelp in 2023 was a significant predictor of gametophyte density, kelp canopy occurrence, and habitat recolonization in 2024, suggesting that dispersal plays an important role in recolonization. By linking spatial connectivity with densities of microscopic life stages and recolonization, this work offers valuable guidance for designing and implementing effective kelp restoration strategies.