Using historical analysis to inform the ecological applications of nautical charts
Date
2025
Authors
Dhillon, Ursula
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Abstract
As coastal ecosystems collapse, historical ecologists have taken interest in the long-term dynamics of kelp forests (Macrocystis pyrifera and Nereocystis luetkeana). Nautical charts created by colonial cartographers often include historical representations of kelp forest distribution and are useful for reconstructing the historical baselines of kelp ecosystems on the west coast of North America. To examine the limitations and possibilities of how these nautical charts can be applied to identify the historical presence of kelp forests, this thesis elucidates the historical context of these nautical charts, including the roles of key figures such as George Vancouver, George Richards, and George Davidson. This research also compares contemporary charts from the late-eighteenth century to the mid-twentieth century, demonstrating how the associated histories of nautical charts provide a more localized and holistic understanding of historical kelp and, more broadly, how historical research can inform the applications of historical sources to marine ecology.
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Keywords
Kelp forests, Historical ecology, Nautical charts, Environmental history, History of maps, Marine historical ecology