Structure and spatio-temporal dynamics of marine communities associated with the kelp forests at Cape Froward, Strait of Magellan

Gigant kelp forest, Macrocystis pyrifera, dominate the coast of southerm Patagonia and are particularty abundant in the coastal ecosystems of Cape Froward, where they play a key role in biodiversity conservation and the provision of multiple ecosystem services, establishing themselves as one the most resilient kelp forest ecosystemson teh planet. This study constitutes one of the first spatiotemporal assessments of the diverse components inhabiting kelp forests in the Strait of Magellan (Cape Froward).

In total, 238 taxa belonging to zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, fish, and macroalgae inhabiting the understory were identified in these ecosystems, including species that are key to the coastal communities of the Magellan region.