Intertidal ecology of the northernmost part of the Chilean Archipelago
1990; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 75; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/00364827.1990.10413444
ISSN1503-1128
Autores Tópico(s)Cephalopods and Marine Biology
ResumoAbstract Species composition and zonation patterns at 12 hard-bottom localities are described and figured. A total of 212 marine species was identified, 135 animals and 77 algae. All species, even those not discussed, are enumerated in an appendix with information on their vertical distribution at each station. The number of algal species was about equal in Seno Reloncaví and Ancud, whereas the number of animal species was lower in Ancud and very low in the brackish fjord Estero Reloncaví. Several very common species in Seno Reloncavi were not found in Ancud and vice versa. Some species had a somewhat higher relative upper limit in Ancud. These differences are probably mainly due to differences in exposure and substrate, rocks in Ancud and boulders and stones in sand in Seno Reloncaví. The general zonation follows the universal pattern with an infralittoral fringe lowest down, above which is a littoral region with sub-zones, and upmost a supralittoral region. Based on the common species, which characterize certain levels, nine distribution types were distinguished. The vertical distribution at the same stations of some related species or such with a supposedly similar biology is compared. Most species preferred different levels but there was much overlapping. The zonation, mainly of algae, at four stations in Seno Reloncaví, described by Alveal and Romo, is compared with that of the neighbouring stations in the present investigation. The vertical distribution of the few species treated in both investigations was similar. The fairly meagre information in the literature on intertidal zonation in Chile has been compiled for comparison. Though some southern species are not found in central and northern Chile and some northern species don't reach the Magellanic province or only occur in its northernmost part, many of the most common and characteristic intertidal species are distributed along the whole coast or a great part of it. Because of that the species composition and zonation patterns are fairly uniform from Cabo de Homos to Arica, a result of the relatively small difference in surface and air temperature between south and north, caused by the Humboldt Current, which carries cold water far north, and upwelling in central and northern Chile.
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