Figure 1

Panels (a) and (b) indicate the location of the cultivation site in the waters of Santa Elena province, Ecuador in South America. Panel (c) the propagules attached to the rope. Panel (d) a series of floating raft units, and finally panel (e) a branch of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Map source NASA: https://soto.podaac.earthdatacloud.nasa.gov/).