Abstract
Lessonia nigrescens and L. trabeculata are economically important canopy-forming kelps in Chile. Experimental harvesting of stipes above the first dichotomy reduces stipe movement and inter-stipe friction, allowing the development of a heavy epiphytic load and increased grazing. Complete stipe removal leads to holdfast death as neither species is able to simultaneously regenerate all stipes. The invertebrate fauna inside the holdfast does not respond to upper canopy changes, but mortality does occur in partial or complete plant removals. Kelp removal also affects inter-plant distances, results in increased access of grazers to the outside and inside of kelp holdfasts, reduces recruitment of other algal species, and modifies the morphology of L. trabeculata such that the plants become more susceptible to removal by water movement.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cancino,J. & B. Santelices, 1981. The ecological importance of kelp-like holdfast as a habitat of invertebrates in central Chile. II. Factors affecting community organization. Proc. int. Seaweed Symp. 10: 241–246.
Cancino, J. & B. Santelices, 1984. Importancia ecologica de los discos adhesivos de Lessonia nigrescens Bory (Phaeophyta) en Chile Central. Rev. chil. Hist. nat. 56: 23–33.
Ojeda, F. P. & B. Santelices, 1984. Ecological dominance of Lessonia nigrescens (Phaeophyta) in central Chile. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 19: 83–91.
Santelices, B., 1982. Bases biologicas para el mancjo de Lessonia nigrescens (Phaeophyta, Laminariales) en Chile central. Monografias biologicas 2: 131–154.
Santelices, B., J. Cancino, J. C. Castilla & P. Schmiede, 1980. Comparative ecology of Lessonia nigrescens and Durvillaea antarctica (Phaeophyta) in central Chile. Mar. Biol. 59: 119–132.
Santelices, B. & F. P. Ojeda, 1984. Recruitment, growth and survival of Lessonia nigrescens (Phaeophyta) at various tidal levels in exposed habitats of Central Chile. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 19: 73–82.
Vasquez, J. A., 1989. Estructura y organizacion de huirales submareales de Lessonia trabeculata. Ph.D. Thesis, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, 261 pp.
Vasquez, J. A. & B. Santelices, 1984. Comunidades de macroinvertebrados en discos adhesivos de Lessonia nigrescens Bory (Phaeophyta) en Chile central. Rev. chil. Hist. nat. 57: 131–154.
Villouta, E. & B. Santelices, 1984. Estructura de la comunidad submareal de Lessonia (Phaeophyta, Laminariales) en Chile norte y central. Rev. chil. Hist. nat. 57: 111–122.
Villouta, E. & B. Santelices, 1986. Lessonia trabeculata sp. nov. (Laminariales, Phaeophyta), a new kelp from Chile. Phycologia 25: 81–86.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vasquez, J.A., Santelices, B. Ecological effects of harvesting Lessonia (Laminariales, Phaeophyta) in central Chile. Hydrobiologia 204, 41–47 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00040213
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00040213