The herbivorous fish, Aplodactylus punctatus, as a potential facilitator of dispersal of the bottom kelp, Lessonia trabeculata, in Chile

Kelp forests are productive marine habitats known to facilitate many trophic and non-trophic interactions. While much of our understanding comes from positive effects of kelp on associated fauna, few studies focus on potential feedbacks that such fauna may provide to benefit kelp. This study aims to analyze the positive interactions between two closely associated fish and kelp species. Lessonia trabeculata, the bottom kelp, and the herbivorous fish, Aplodactylus punctatus, were sampled at four sites off northern-central Chile to evaluate the following: interactions during the ontogeny of the fish, the availability of reproductive tissue of the kelp blades, the effects of digestion by A. punctatus on L. trabeculata reproductive tissue, and the viability of zoospores after digestion. Our results show a network of direct and indirect positive interactions between these species. There was a positive correlation in their densities, possibly due to kelp functioning as a refuge and indirect fo...