Biotopos marinos intermareales entre Canal Trinidad y Canal Smyth, Sur de Chile

Abstract

Through an oceanographic cruise carried out between the southern area of Aysen and the northern one of Magallanes, Canal Trinidad to Canal Smyth (50o00'S, 75o00'W to 52o00'S, 73o48'W), 13 collecting stations were made to gather biological material to record and characterizing the intertidal biotopes of this extended area. A total of 19 biotopes were identified, from which 12 of those had been recorded previously at more septentrional areas of Aysen; other 6 represented variations of those previously recorded in other areas and only 1 was described as a new intertidal biotope. Among the former ones are rocky shore biotopes belonging to the dominant species Bostrychia harveyi, Acrosiphonia pacifica, Porphyra sp., Adenocystis utricularis, Iridaea tuberculosa and Mazzaella laminarioides-Nothogenia fastigiata. Among the 6 ones which represent variations of some biotopes before described there are 2 of Porphyra sp., 3 of Bostrychia harveyi and 1 of Mazzaella laminarioides-Nothogenia fastigiata. Just the rocky shore biotope integrated by the macroalgae Caepidium antarcticum and crustose coralline algae was the only new one. This new biotope is distributed in the lower eulitoral subzone of sheltered areas and it is characterized by having a strong subantarctic influence. Coastal biotope biodiversity was high, as a consequence of the multiple geographic, geologic, oceanographic and climatic factors interacting in this extended region. In general, the area was characterized by exhibiting a high biological diversity reflected through the diversity of observed biotopes, which demonstrated the presence of highly productive ecosystem.