Stylasteridae) in shallow water of the Patagonian fjord region
Abstract During two scuba-diving expeditions in 2005 and 2006, stylasterids were documented and sam-pled from fjords and channels in the Central Patago-nian Zone, Chile. At 15 of a total of 33 sampling sites we found colonies of Errina antarctica. We discuss the observed distribution patterns and th...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.579.3190 http://www.huinay.cl/download/HSFS17-hydrocorals.pdf |
| Summary: | Abstract During two scuba-diving expeditions in 2005 and 2006, stylasterids were documented and sam-pled from fjords and channels in the Central Patago-nian Zone, Chile. At 15 of a total of 33 sampling sites we found colonies of Errina antarctica. We discuss the observed distribution patterns and the variability of colony shapes. In some regions we found E. antarctica to occur in extraordinary high densities on primary and secondary hard substratum below 10 m. In the archi-pelago Madre de Dios we discovered large colonies of E. antarctica covering areas of more than 10,000 m with coverage exceeding 80%. The dense accumula-tions of E. antarctica have reef-like structure and form complex habitats. At one site we observed extensive mechanical damage to the corals that may result from coral extraction by divers and/or from boat anchors. Slow growth, fragility, scarceness and the lack of knowledge on their ecology make these spectacular and unique biocenoses very susceptible for damages and require protection and further studies. |
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