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The distribution of young sporophytes (up to 0.25 m stipe length) of the kelp Ecklonia maxima, on various substrata, at depths of 2.5 to 5.0 m, was studied at 8 sites on the southwest coast of South Africa. The most common substratum available was rock (bare or covered with encrusting coralline algae), followed by kelp holdfasts, and the ascld~an Pyura stolonlfera at some sites. A disproportionately high rat10 (relative to the available substrata) of young sporophytes grew on the holdfasts of mature kelps at most sites, but particularly where hlgh densities of benthic Invertebrate grazers were present (mainly the urchin Parechinus angulosus, also abalone Haliotis mjdae, limpets Patella spp. and gastropods Turbo spp. and Oxystele spp.). Jacobs' index of electivity was used an indicator of 'preference for' (interpreted as indicating survival on) the substratum type. This showed a statistically significant 'negative select~on' of rock as a substratum at sites where grazers were numerous The ratios of young sporophytes on holdfasts/young sporophytes on rock were directly proport~onal to grazer d e n s~t~e s when sites were compared (r = -0.90, p = 0.0021, supporting the hypothesis that mature holdfasts are an important refuge for recruitment of E. maxlma sporophytes. There was a n inverse relationship between percentage cover of understorey algae and grazer densities (r = 0.92. p = 0.001). In general, sites east of Cape Point (west coast/south coast transition zone) have far more grazers and reduced understorey algal biomasses compared to west coast sites. There thus appear to be fundamental differences In some of the major ecological processes in kelp beds In these 2 areas. w~t h important implications for commercial kelp harvesting.

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