Marine communities of the newly created Kawésqar National Reserve, Chile: from glaciers to the Pacific Ocean ...
The newly created Kawésqar National Park (KNP) and National Reserve (KNR) in southern Chile consists of diverse terrestrial and marine habitats, which includes the southern terminus of the Andes, the Southern Patagonia Ice Fields, sub-Antarctic rainforests, glaciers, fjords, lakes, wetlands, valleys...
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| Format: | Dataset |
| Language: | English |
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Dryad
2021
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| Online Access: | https://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.f7m0cfxvj https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.f7m0cfxvj |
| Summary: | The newly created Kawésqar National Park (KNP) and National Reserve (KNR) in southern Chile consists of diverse terrestrial and marine habitats, which includes the southern terminus of the Andes, the Southern Patagonia Ice Fields, sub-Antarctic rainforests, glaciers, fjords, lakes, wetlands, valleys, channels, and islands. The marine environment is influenced by wide ranging hydrological factors such as glacier melt, large terrigenous inputs, high precipitation, strong currents, and open ocean water masses. Owing to the remoteness, rugged terrain, and harsh environmental conditions, little is known about this vast region, particularly the marine realm. To this end, we conducted an integrated ecological assessment using SCUBA and remote cameras down to 600 m to examine this unique and largely unexplored ecosystem. Kelp forests (primarily Macrocystis pyrifera) dominate the nearshore ecosystem and provide habitat for myriad benthic organisms. In the fjords, salinity was low and both turbidity and nutrients from ... : In-situ surveys: invertebrates and fishes Two transects of 25-m length, carried out on SCUBA, were conducted parallel to shore, towards the lower edge of the kelp zone. For sessile and mobile invertebrates, the number of individuals was estimated within 1-m of either side of the transect line (50 m2). For colonial organisms (sponges, some cnidarians, bryozoans, and some tunicates) colonies, rather than individuals, were counted. Only non-cryptic invertebrates > 1 cm were enumerated. A second diver counted the number of kelp stipes (M. pyrifera and Lessonia spp.) within 1-m on either side of these transects. M. pyrifera holdfast diameters were measured by a third diver as an indication of plant size and age [2]. This diver also measured test diameter of the sea urchin Loxechinus albus in the general vicinity of the transect. For fish surveys, a scuba diver counted and sized all fishes within 1-m of either side of the 25-m transect lines (50 m2) at each survey site (N = 2 transects). The transect column ... |
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