[9] The genus name Durvillaea was given in memory of the French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville, while the Latin derived epithet refers to antarctic.

[14] Specimens of D. antarctica have been found to float for up to 210 days, during which time high wind speeds transport kelp rafts up to 10,000 km.

[15] Environmental factors such as temperature, solar radiation and surface winds (all of which vary with latitude) affect buoyancy of rafts and their rate of travel.

[18][clarification needed] The holdfast failing is usually the result of worms and molluscs which feed on the tissue because of the sheltered habitat it creates.

[20] Eggs are small and disperse over short distances, and they generally require calm or moderate wave action in order to settle and successfully attach to substrates.

[21] Durvillaea antarctica has a circumpolar distribution between the latitudes of 29°S and 55°S, found in Chile, southern New Zealand, and Macquarie Island.

[25] In New Zealand, epifaunal species include the crustaceans Parawaldeckia kidderi, P. karaka[25] and Limnoria stephenseni, and the molluscs Cantharidus roseus, Onchidella marginata,[26] Onithochiton neglectus,[25] and Sypharochiton sinclairi.

Kelp-associated invertebrates can be transported inside of drifting holdfasts, potentially leading to long-distance dispersal and a significant impact upon the population genetic structure of those species.

[33][34][36][37] Stems and holdfasts of D. antarctica and D. incurvata are harvested from the coast of Chile and is used in Chilean cuisine for various recipes, including salads and stews.

[39] The expression derives from the fact that harvested D. antarctica is preserved by being sun-dried and then softened by soaking in a dish of water.