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Spatial and temporal variability of the benthic assemblages associated to the holdfasts of the kelp Macrocystis pyrifera in the Straits of Magellan, Chile

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Abstract

Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C. Agardh is a characteristic macroalga in the Magellan region covering almost 30% of the shallow coastal waters. The focus of this study was to analyse the spatial and seasonal patterns in macrofauna communities associated to the holdfasts of Macrocystis pyrifera at two study sites in the Straits of Magellan, South Chile. In total, 114 species from 10 major taxa were isolated from the holdfasts. MDS clearly separated the holdfast fauna collected in different seasons, with autumn and winter collections being richer in terms of species richness and abundance as compared to the spring and summer situation. MDS also clearly separated the holdfast associated faunas of the two study sites, Bahía Laredo and Fuerte Bulnes. The community structure and species composition of the associated macro-invertebrates and vertebrates appeared rather heterogeneous, probably due to the extremely heterogeneous environmental conditions along the entire coastline of the Subantarctic Magellan region.

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Acknowledgements

Our warmest thanks to the following experts who assisted in the identification of different taxa: Igor Smirnov (Ophiuroidea), Boris Sirenko (Polyplacophora), Christoph Held (Isopoda) and Evelyn Morrison (Pisces). Funding was provided partially by the Universidad de Magallanes (Grant PR-F3-01B-98). Jorge Ramirez, Pamela Soto and Christian Muñoz kindly assisted with the field and laboratory work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dirección de Programas Antárticos, Universidad de Magallanes, P.O. Box 113-D, Punta Arenas, Chile

    Carlos Ríos

  2. Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar- and Marine Research, Columbusstr., 27568, Bremerhaven, Germany

    Wolf E. Arntz & Dieter Gerdes

  3. Laboratorio de Hidrobiología, Instituto de la Patagonia, Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile

    Erika Mutschke & Américo Montiel

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  1. Carlos Ríos
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  2. Wolf E. Arntz
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  4. Erika Mutschke
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  5. Américo Montiel
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Correspondence to Carlos Ríos.

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Ríos, C., Arntz, W.E., Gerdes, D. et al. Spatial and temporal variability of the benthic assemblages associated to the holdfasts of the kelp Macrocystis pyrifera in the Straits of Magellan, Chile. Polar Biol 31, 89–100 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0337-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0337-4

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