Kelp are foundation species that support high levels of biodiversity and, either directly or indirectly provide a wide range of ecological goods and services to human society. In recent decades, due to the high demand for kelp-derived products such as alginate, commercial wild harvesting has increased, leading to declines of kelp biomass in some regions. Chile accounts for 40% of the global kelp harvest, with the subtidal kelp, Lessonia trabeculata being one of the main target species. Currently, however, there is a lack of information on how different degrees of harvesting intensity, governed by distinct management regimes and their enforcement influences L. trabeculata populations. Here we examined the effect different management regimes, characterised by distinct levels of exploitation of kelp and kelp-associated fauna, have on L. trabeculata density and morphology along ~ 1600 km of the Chilean coastline. The findings demonstrated that harvesting intensity likely influences both L. trabeculata density and morphology. Juvenile density of L. trabeculata was five times higher in the most harvesting-affected areas, while kelp morphology values, including holdfast diameter, number of stipes and total length, were always higher in the less-intensively harvested areas. Our study suggests that different degrees of protection can influence density and morphology of subtidal L. trabeculata populations, which in turn has important implications for the conservation of the kelp forest ecosystems and management of this important fishery.

海带是支持高水平生物多样性并直接或间接为人类社会提供各种生态产品和服务的基础物种。近几十年来，由于对海藻衍生产品（例如藻酸盐）的大量需求，商业性野生捕捞活动有所增加，导致某些地区海带生物量下降。智利占全球海带收获量的40％，潮下海带，Teachia trabeculata是主要目标物种之一。但是，目前缺乏关于不同程度的采伐强度如何受不同管理制度及其执法对小梁乳杆菌的影响的信息。人口。在这里，我们研究了不同管理制度对海藻和与海藻有关的动物的不同利用水平，对智利海岸线约1600 km的小梁乳杆菌密度和形态产生了影响。这些发现表明，收获强度可能会影响小梁乳杆菌的密度和形态。在最受收成影响的地区，小梁乳杆菌的幼鱼密度高五倍，而在不那么密集的收成地区，海带形态值（包括固定直径，柄的数量和总长度）始终较高。我们的研究表明，不同程度的保护可以影响潮间带小梁乳杆菌的密度和形态。 人口，这反过来对海带森林生态系统的保护和这一重要渔业的管理具有重要意义。