| This study investigates the impact of Undaria pinnatifida on the reef fish assemblage associated with the coastal rocky reefs of Golfo Nuevo in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Undaria pinnatifida is a laminarian kelp, indigenous to the temperate regions of Japan, China and Korea. It has spread around the world by international shipping and has also been introduced in some regions for mariculture. Its expansion into the northern Patagonian gulfs and Peninsula Valdes, a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site, may threaten eco-tourism activities that depend on local biodiversity and the esthetic quality of the ecosystem. In particular, there is concern about the impact of Undaria on a variety of recreational activities including diving, angling and spear fishing, which... |
