Lessonia (alga)

Lessonia is a genus of large kelp native to the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the only kelp to be restricted to the southern hemisphere and is primarily distributed along the coasts of South America, New Zealand, Tasmania, and the Antarctic islands. Lessonia is one of two principal genera in kelp forests (the other is Macrocystis).

In Chile, the preservation of Lessonia kelp is an important to help preserve the biodiversity that exists on rocky shores. By studying the harvesting of these wild populations of Lessonia kelp marine biologists are able to analyze the effects of this activity on wildlife. Some species are of economic importance, such as Lessonia nigrescens, which is harvested for alginate.

They use a variety of chemical defenses and are somewhat resistant to algivory. The zoospores are known to produce sporophytes even when ingested by fish.

The conservation status of the genus has not been extensively researched. Only two species of Lessonia, L. oreas and L. rufa, have been assessed by the IUCN. Both of which have been marked “least concern.”