Study of bacteria associated with M.pyrifera in the Magellan Strait
The giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera is categorized as a keystone species forming highly productive forests providing a wide range of ecosystem services and hosting a remarkable marine biodiversity, including several species of macro and microorganisms. Within the latter, the association of microorganisms with the algae is close and functionally interdependent. In this study, 16S rRNA metabarcoding was used to characterize the diversity and composition of bacterial communities associated with M. pyrifera forests from different sites across the Magellan Strait.