Southeastern Pacific Ocean Research Articles

Subseasonal Coastal‐Trapped Wave Propagations in the Southeastern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans: 2. Wave Characteristics and Connection With the Equatorial Variability

AbstractThe objective of this study is to compare the characteristics of the oceanic teleconnection with the linear equatorial dynamics of two upwelling systems along the southwestern South American and African continents at subseasonal time scales (<120 days). Altimetric data analysis shows that the coastal variability remains coherent with the equatorial signal until 27°S in the southeastern Pacific (SEP), while in the southeastern Atlantic (SEA) it fades out south of 12°S. To explain this striking difference, our methodology is based on the experimentation with twin regional model configurations of the SEP and SEA Oceans. The estimation of free Coastal‐Trapped Waves (CTWs) modal structures and associated contribution to coastal variability allows inferring and comparing the characteristics of each CTW mode in the two systems; namely, their forcings, amplitude, dissipation rate, and scattering. Results show that the Pacific subseasonal equatorial forcing is only 20% larger than in the Atlantic, but important differences in the relative contribution of each baroclinic mode are reported. The first baroclinic mode dominates the eastern equatorial Pacific variability, while in the eastern equatorial Atlantic, the second mode is the most energetic. This leads to a drastic increase in the dissipation and scattering of the remotely forced CTW in the SEA sector, compared to the coastal SEP. Concomitantly, south of 15°S, the subseasonal coastal wind stress forcing is substantially more energetic in the SEA and participates in breaking the link between the equatorial forcing and the coastal variability. Our results are consistent with the solutions of a simple multimode CTW model.

New Record of Black Turtle Chelonia mydas agassizii in High Latitudes of Eastern South Pacific Ocean

New Record of Black Turtle Chelonia mydas agassizii in High Latitudes of Eastern South Pacific Ocean

Evaluating Surface Radiation Fluxes Observed From Satellites in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean

AbstractThis study is focused on evaluation of current satellite and reanalysis estimates of surface radiative fluxes in a climatically important region. It uses unique observations from the STRATUS Ocean Reference Station buoy in a region of persistent marine stratus clouds 1,500 km off northern Chile during 2000–2012. The study shows that current satellite estimates are in better agreement with buoy observations than model outputs at a daily time scale and that satellite data depict well the observed annual cycle in both shortwave and longwave surface radiative fluxes. Also, buoy and satellite estimates do not show any significant trend over the period of overlap or any interannual variability. This verifies the stability and reliability of the satellite data and should make them useful to examine El Niño–Southern Oscillation variability influences on surface radiative fluxes at the STRATUS site for longer periods for which satellite record is available.

The future of coastal upwelling in the Humboldt current from model projections

The Humboldt coastal upwelling system in the eastern South Pacific ocean is one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world. A weakening of the upwelling activity could lead to severe ecological impacts. As coastal upwelling in eastern boundary systems is mainly driven by wind stress, most studies so far have analysed wind patterns change through the 20th and 21st Centuries in order to understand and project the phenomenon under specific forcing scenarios. Mixed results have been reported, and analyses from General Circulation Models have suggested even contradictory trends of wind stress for the Humboldt system. In this study, we analyse the ocean upwelling directly in 13 models contributing to phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) in both the historical simulations and an extreme climate change scenario (RCP8.5). The upwelling is represented by the upward ocean mass flux, a newly-included variable that represents the vertical water transport. Additionally, wind stress, ocean stratification, Ekman layer depth and thermocline depth were also analysed to explore their interactions with coastal upwelling throughout the period studied. The seasonal cycle of coastal upwelling differs between the Northern and Southern Humboldt areas. At lower latitudes, the upwelling season spans most of the autumn, winter and spring. However, in the Southern Humboldt area the upwelling season takes place in spring and the summertime with downwelling activity in winter. This persists throughout the Historical and RCP8.5 simulations. For both the Northern and Southern Humboldt areas an increasing wind stress is projected. However, different trends of upwelling intensity are observed away from the sea surface. Whereas wind stress will continue controlling the decadal variability of coastal upwelling on the whole ocean column analysed (surface to 300 m depth), an increasing disconnect with upwelling intensity is projected below 100 m depth throughout the 21st Century. This relates to an intensification of ocean stratification under global warming as shown by the sea water temperature profiles. Additionally, a divergence between the Ekman layer and thermocline depths is also evidenced. Given the interaction of upwelled nutrients and microscopic organisms essential for fish growth, a potential decline of coastal upwelling at depth could lead to unknown ecological and socio-economical effects.

A Diagnostic PDF Cloud Scheme to Improve Subtropical Low Clouds in NCAR Community Atmosphere Model (CAM5)

AbstractLow clouds strongly impact the radiation budget of the climate system, but their simulation in most GCMs has remained a challenge, especially over the subtropical stratocumulus region. Assuming a Gaussian distribution for the subgrid‐scale total water and liquid water potential temperature, a new statistical cloud scheme is proposed and tested in NCAR Community Atmospheric Model version 5 (CAM5). The subgrid‐scale variance is diagnosed from the turbulent and shallow convective processes in CAM5. The approach is able to maintain the consistency between cloud fraction and cloud condensate and thus alleviates the adjustment needed in the default relative humidity‐based cloud fraction scheme. Short‐term forecast simulations indicate that low cloud fraction and liquid water content, including their diurnal cycle, are improved due to a proper consideration of subgrid‐scale variance over the southeastern Pacific Ocean region. Compared with the default cloud scheme, the new approach produced the mean climate reasonably well with improved shortwave cloud forcing (SWCF) due to more reasonable low cloud fraction and liquid water path over regions with predominant low clouds. Meanwhile, the SWCF bias over the tropical land regions is also alleviated. Furthermore, the simulated marine boundary layer clouds with the new approach extend further offshore and agree better with observations. The new approach is able to obtain the top of atmosphere (TOA) radiation balance with a slightly alleviated double ITCZ problem in preliminary coupled simulations. This study implies that a close coupling of cloud processes with other subgrid‐scale physical processes is a promising approach to improve cloud simulations.

New insights on the trophic ecology of blue (Prionace glauca) and shortfin mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus) from the oceanic eastern South Pacific

ABSTRACTThe blue shark (Prionace glauca) and the shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) are two large and highly migratory sharks distributed in most oceans. Although they are often caught in the south Pacific Ocean long-line fisheries, their trophic ecology is poorly understood. Stable isotopes with Bayesian mixing and dependence concentration models were performed to determine the diet and trophic differences between the two species in the South-eastern Pacific Ocean. According to the mixing models, fishes are the most important prey of these sharks. Dolphin calves and remains were found in the stomachs of both species, which represents a novel finding in trophic ecology of South Pacific sharks. Intra-specific differences were found in P. glauca, but not in specimens of I. oxyrinchus. The two sharks showed a high degree of diet overlap (73%), primarily over mackerel and dolphin carcasses. Our results indicate that blue and shortfin mako sharks have a generalist feeding strategy in the eastern Pacific Ocean, with a strong preference for teleost fishes and also for dolphin carcasses. Therefore, trophic studies are useful to understand energy flow through the food web, and the trophic position of key species.

Inter- and intra-regional patterns of stable isotopes in Dosidicus gigas beak: biological, geographical and environmental effects

We analysed stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes of 478 Dosidicus gigas specimens collected outside the Ecuadorian, Peruvian and Chilean exclusive economic zones in the south-eastern Pacific Ocean during 2009 to 2013. There were significant spatial differences both in δ13C and δ15N values across regions, with the lowest values off Ecuador and the highest values off Chile. A small intra-regional range of isotope values indicates that squid off Ecuador feed at the same trophic level with similar primary production. In contrast, a large intra-regional range of isotope values suggests that squid off Chile, especially Peru, migrate over a large geographic range and occupy a wide range of trophic levels. A generalised additive model was used to estimate the biological (mantle length and age), geographical (latitude, and distance to the shelf break) and environmental (sea-surface temperature and chlorophyll-a) effects on isotope values. Best fitted generalised additive models explained 54.0% of the variability in δ13C and 93.1% of the variability in δ15N. The yield relationships between isotopes and explanatory variables increase our understanding of D. gigas habitats, movement and feeding ecology in the south-eastern Pacific Ocean.

Assessing Potential Predation Risk by Introduced Predators on Unattended Eggs in the Red-Tailed Tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda, on Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

Anthropogenic impact has been heavy in remote oceanic islands, including the introduction of alien species, having negative effects on native seabirds. The isolated and subtropical Rapa Nui (Easter Island) is one of the few known breeding sites of the red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda in Chile (southeastern Pacific Ocean) where is listed as vulnerable. A relatively new breeding colony is found in the Rano Raraku volcano, where human-introduced species are present. We used hen eggs as a proxy for red-tailed tropicbird eggs to assess potential predation risk on unattended eggs. Each experimental egg was monitored by camera traps during 6 days. Three predatory species were identified on the records: the Brown rat Rattus norvegicus, the Polynesian rat Rattus exulans, and the raptor Chimango Caracara Phalcoboenus chimango. The most frequent species were the Rattus spp. A total of 45 predatory visits were recorded with a total time of 1.7 h, accounting for the 0.3% of the experimental time. Within this time of visits, all the potential predators spent time in both interacting activities (trying to prey on) and no-interacting activities with the experimental eggs. Only a Brown rat was able to prey on one of the eggs. Our results suggest that these invasive species are a low threat for unattended red-tailed tropicbird eggs at Rano Raraku, Rapa Nui. However, future research is needed to determine the potential negative effects over unattended red-tailed tropicbird nestlings that are easier for these predators to handle compared with an egg.

Genesis, Pathways, and Terminations of Intense Global Water Vapor Transport in Association with Large‐Scale Climate Patterns

AbstractThe CONNected objECT (CONNECT) algorithm is applied to global Integrated Water Vapor Transport data from the NASA's Modern‐Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications – Version 2 reanalysis product for the period of 1980 to 2016. The algorithm generates life‐cycle records in time and space evolving strong vapor transport events. We show five regions, located in the midlatitudes, where events typically exist (off the coast of the southeast United States, eastern China, eastern South America, off the southern tip of South Africa, and in the southeastern Pacific Ocean). Global statistics show distinct genesis and termination regions and global seasonal peak frequency during Northern Hemisphere late fall/winter and Southern Hemisphere winter. In addition, the event frequency and geographical location are shown to be modulated by the Arctic Oscillation, Pacific North American Pattern, and the quasi‐biennial oscillation. Moreover, a positive linear trend in the annual number of objects is reported, increasing by 3.58 objects year‐over‐year.

Distribution and abundance patterns of echinoderms in the fjord and channel complex from a subantarctic north Patagonian Ice field, Magellan region

The existence of latitudinal marine biodiversity gradients from low to high-southern latitudes is a controversial issue regarding the marine biogeographic division in the Southeastern Pacific. In this region, the Northern Patagonian Icefield is considered a break point for faunistic elements derived from more northern or southern biogeographical realms. However, the division seems to be better defined by distribution patterns and endemism of specific marine taxa. There have been no exhaustive latitudinal benthic inventories compiled along the southern-eastern Pacific Chilean coastline. This study focuses on the spatial distribution variability and relative abundance of the sublittoral echinoderm assemblages and uses them to establish an evaluation of zoogeographic relationship in the Southeastern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. This is the first time echinoderms have been used for this purpose. A total 3 665 echinoderm specimens were collected in two cruises. Within this organism pool, 29 species were distinguished, belonging to the asteroids (17 species), echinoids (6 species), ophiuroids (4 species) and holothurians (2 species); crinoids were not found. The dominant species were the asteroid Ctenodiscus procurator, the echinoid Pseudechinus magellanicus, the ophiuroid Ophiuroglypha lymani, and the irregular sea urchin Tripylaster philippii. The spatial distribution patterns for the echinoderm clusters along the study area showed only weak geographical trends. Stations belong in three groups: with influence of glacier processes, influence of waters of the open Pacific Ocean, and a third group of stations without any links to specific locations. Rev. Biol. Trop. 65(Suppl. 1): S60-S72. Epub 2017 November 01.

Comparative allometric variation in intertidal chitons (Polyplacophora: Chitonidae)

Allometry involves the study of the relationship between size and shape of an individual, and in particular, the manner in which shape depends on size. Animals with multi-element skeletons may have differing growth allometries in different parts of the body. Chitons, for example, have eight overlapping shell plates or valves of three distinct types: head (one plate), intermediate (six plates), and tail (one plate). The overall chiton body is ellipsoidal and different species differ in their eccentricity. The aim of this study was to examine overall allometry in size and shape over adult ontogeny, and how these patterns vary among four closely related species of intertidal chitons from Southeastern Pacific Ocean. For each specimen (n = 407), measurements were taken of total body length and the exposed anterio-posterior lengths of the eight shell plates. Multivariate allometry was evaluated by means of a principal component analysis for each species separately, and for the total. The results showed differential allometric growth of specific skeletal elements, which varied among species; however, there was no clear evidence for specific differentiable growth stages. The overall trend among the combined species was for weakly positive allometry of shell plate widths, but isometric growth of total length and width; thus, the lateral proportion of the animal occupied by shell increases over growth and conversely “thinner looking” girdles may be generally indicative of older animals.

The 2004 Sumatra tsunami in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean: New Global Insight from Observations and Modeling

AbstractThe 2004 Sumatra tsunami was an unprecedented global disaster measured throughout the world oceans. The present study focused on a region of the southeastern Pacific Ocean where the “westward” circumferentially propagating tsunami branch converged with the “eastward” branch, based on data from fortuitously placed Chilean DART 32401 and tide gauges along the coast of South America. By comparison of the tsunami and background spectra, we suppressed the influence of topography and reconstructed coastal “spectral ratios” that were in close agreement with a ratio at DART 32401 and spectral ratios in other oceans. Findings indicate that even remote tsunami records carry spectral source signatures (“birth‐marks”). The 2004 tsunami waves were found to occupy the broad frequency band of 0.25–10 cph with the prominent ratio peak at period of 40 min related to the southern fast‐slip source domain. This rupture “hot‐spot” of ∼350 km was responsible for the global impact of the 2004 tsunami. Data from DART 32401 provided validation of model results: the simulated maximum tsunami wave height of 2.25 cm was a conservative approximation to the measured height of 2.05 cm; the computed tsunami travel time of 25 h 35 min to DART 32401, although 20 min earlier than the actual travel time, provided a favorable result in comparison with 24 h 25 min estimated from classical kinematic theory. The numerical simulations consistently reproduced the wave height changes observed along the coast of South America, including local amplification of tsunami waves at the northern stations of Arica (72 cm) and Callao (67 cm).

Deep-Water Ophiuroids (Echinodermata) Associated with Anthozoans and Hexactinellid Sponges from Northern Chile

Associations between ophiuroids and sponges or corals are common and well studied among shallow water species. In deep-water communities, such relationships are more difficult to observe because of the difficulty in sampling by traditional methods. In this work, five species of ophiuroids attached to corals and sponges, obtained as bycatch in commercial fishing vessels, were identified. Of the species living on corals, Asteroschema sp. was collected for the first time on the Chilean coast. Of the species from sponges, Ophiacanthella acontophora (Clark, 1911) has its first record for the Southern Hemisphere, and Histampica rugosa H.L. Clark, 1941 has the first record for the southeastern Pacific Ocean.

Diversity of culturable filamentous Ascomycetes in the eastern South Pacific Ocean off Chile.

Our study reports the diversity of culturable mycoplankton in the eastern South Pacific Ocean off Chile to contribute with novel knowledge on taxonomy of filamentous fungi isolated from distinct physicochemical and biological marine environments. We characterized spatial distribution of isolates, evaluated their viability and assessed the influence of organic substrate availability on fungal development. Thirty-nine Operational Taxonomic Units were identified from 99 fungal strains isolated from coastal and oceanic waters by using Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery. All Operational Taxonomic Units belonged to phylum Ascomycota and orders Eurotiales, Dothideales, Sordariales and Hypocreales, mainly Penicillium sp. (82%); 11 sequences did not match existing species in GenBank, suggesting occurrence of novel fungal taxa. Our results suggest that fungal communities in the South Pacific Ocean off Chile appear to thrive in a wide range of environmental conditions in the ocean and that substrate availability may be a factor influencing fungal viability in the ocean.

Integrative systematics of the genus Limacia O. F. Müller, 1781 (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia, Nudibranchia, Polyceridae) in the Eastern Pacific

Morphological examination and molecular analyses of specimens of the genus Limacia collected in the Eastern Pacific Ocean indicate that four species of Limacia occur in the region. Limacia cockerelli, previously considered to range from Alaska to Baja California, is common only in the northern part of its former range. An undescribed pseudocryptic species, previously included as L. cockerelli, occurs from Northern California to the Baja California Peninsula and is the most common species of Limacia in Southern California and Northern Mexico. Another new species similar to L. cockerelli is described from Antofagasta, Chile and constitutes the first record of the genus Limacia in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean. These two new species are formally described herein. Finally, Limacia janssi is a genetically and morphologically distinct tropical species ranging from Baja California to Panama. Species delimitation analyses based on molecular data and unique morphological traits from the dorsum, radula, and reproductive systems are useful in distinguishing these species

Taxonomic update and illustrated key of Zeiformes from Chile (Pisces: Actinopterigii)

The Chilean fishes of the order Zeiformes are rare in museum collections, the lack of scientific expeditions to the submarine ridge and the scarcity of new specimens records in Chilean shelves, as well as the lack of biological studies, probably accounts for its apparent rarity. In the last two decades, fishes of the order Zeiformes in Chile have undergone major changes in their taxonomic categories and in the record of new species. In Chile, there are five families, 7 genera and 11 species. They live in benthic and bathypelagic realms and are distributed at depths of 30 to 1500 m. Also, the literature of these species, is scattered, hindering their taxonomic and systematic knowledge, which makes difficult their study and better understanding as a group. It also prevents progress in such important aspects like their phylogenetic relationships, the state of vulnerability of their populations and other biological aspects. In order to contribute to the knowledge and its identification, a bibliographical compilation and a tentative illustrated identification key that unifies all the existing information in a single document, is presented. This may constitute a new tool to contribute to the growing interest in biodiversity studies in the south eastern Pacific Ocean. Normal 0 21 false false false ES X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Tabla normal; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

On the Nitrous Oxide Accumulation in Intermediate Waters of the Eastern South Pacific Ocean

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a powerful greenhouse gas principally produced by nitrification and denitrification in the marine environment. Observations were made in the eastern South Pacific (ESP), between 10o and 60°S, and ~75° to 88°W, from intermediate waters targeting Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) at potential density of 27.0-27.1 kg m-3. Between 60° to 20°S, a gradual equatorward increase of N2O from 8 to 26 nmol L-1 was observed at density 27.0-27.1 kg m-3 where AAIW penetrates. Positive correlations were found between apparent N2O production (∆N2O) and O2 utilization (AOU), and between ∆N2O and NO3-, which suggested that local N2O production is predominantly produced by nitrification. Closer to the equator, between 20° and 10°S at AAIW core, a strong N2O increase up to 75 nmol L-1 was observed. Because negative correlations were found between ∆N2O vs. NO3- and ∆N2O vs. N* (a Nitrogen deficit index) and because ∆N2O and AOU do not follow a linear trend, we suspect that, in addition to nitrification, denitrification also takes place in N2O cycling. By making use of water mass mixing analyses, we show that an increase in N2O occurs in the region where high oxygen from AAIW merges with low oxygen from Equatorial Subsurface Water (ESSW), creating favorable conditions for local N2O production. We conclude that the non-linearity in the relationship between N2O and O2 is a result of mixing between two water masses with very different source characteristics, paired with the different time frames of nitrification and denitrification processes that impact water masses en route before they finally meet and mix in the ESP region.

New records of coral-associated crabs (Decapoda: Brachyura: Carpilioidea, Trapezoidea) from Easter Island.

A review is made of those brachyurans that are symbiotic or otherwise associated with scleractinian corals on Easter Island, southeastern Pacific Ocean. A total of seven species is reported, including three species from two families not previously known from the island. Earlier records of Trapezia are analyzed and, although as many as six species have been previously reported, we conclude that only three species are known to occur on the island with certainty.

First report of deep-sea copepod Megacalanus princeps Wolfenden, 1904 (Calanoidea: Megacalanidae) from southwestern Atlantic

Abstract The deep-sea copepod Megacalanus princeps Wolfenden, 1904 was previously recorded from the northern and southeastern Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, but not previously observed from southwestern Atlantic. Here we report its first occurrence in Brazilian waters. The current record increases the knowledge on the species distribution and on the deep-sea copepod fauna in the south Atlantic.

Diet of the bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas, and the tiger shark,Galeocerdo cuvier, in the eastern Pacific Ocean

This study presents information on the diet of two shark species, Carcharhinus leucas and Galeocerdo cuvier, that inhabit the southeastern Pacific Ocean. The stomachs were collected from October 2003 to July 2005 in Ecuador. Stomachs of 41 C. leucas and six G. cuvier were analyzed. According to the index of relative importance (%IRI), the most important prey for C. leucas were fishes: family Ophichthidae (13.41%), Tylosurus pacificus (9.79%), Katsuwonus pelamis (4.54%), and fish remains (44.81%). G. cuvier, for its part, consumed squids: Ancistrocheirus lesueuri (45.14%), Pholidoteuthis boschmaii (7.81%), and Octopoteuthis spp. (5.17%), as well as turtles: Caretta caretta (9.7%), Lepidochelys cf. kempii (5%), and turtle remains (16.5%). The results show that C. leucas (trophic level, ITR; 4.32 $\pm$ 0.13) and G. cuvier (ITR; 4.26 $\pm$ 0.09) are tertiary consumers, occupying high positions in the food chain, but also are generalist predators that feed on a variety of prey. The high frequency of sea turtles in the stomachs of G. cuvier (>300 cm) suggests that this shark species is an important predator of turtles, which are commonly found along the southeastern Pacific coasts.