Domiciles of stipe-boring amphipods on subtidal individuals of the kelp Lessonia berteroana

Stipe-burrowing amphipods construct domiciles in thalli of subtidal individuals of the large kelp Lessonia berteroana in northern-central Chile. Characteristics of the domiciles and the amphipod assemblages inside the domiciles were determined from kelp individuals collected at Playa Blanca in 2011 and 2014. The distribution of domiciles and breakages induced by amphipod burrowing were studied in kelp stipes collected at Playa Blanca in 2017. Morphological characteristics of the kelp, such as average blade and internode biomass (wet weight) were recorded.