12.07.2015 Views

the humboldt current system of northern and central chile - figema

the humboldt current system of northern and central chile - figema

the humboldt current system of northern and central chile - figema

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

THE HUMBOLDT CURRENT SYSTEM OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL CHILElatitudinal <strong>and</strong> vertical environmental conditions gradient <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> HCS, <strong>the</strong>re are few studies <strong>of</strong>physiological responses <strong>of</strong> invertebrates living in this eco<strong>system</strong>. The range <strong>of</strong> temperatures registeredin <strong>the</strong> intertidal (rocky pools) along this latitudinal gradient (Pulgar et al. 2006) is very similarto <strong>the</strong> TGR from <strong>the</strong> low-to-high intertidal zone observed in <strong>central</strong> Chile (Table 5). Therefore, itcould be expected to find similar <strong>the</strong>rmal physiological variability <strong>and</strong> local adaptations <strong>of</strong> congenersor conspecifics in <strong>the</strong> latitudinal gradient to those found in <strong>the</strong> intertidal vertical gradient.Because in this area <strong>the</strong> pattern <strong>of</strong> environmental variability shifts from a relatively predictableseasonal pattern to a more unpredictable pattern <strong>of</strong> high interannual variability (i.e., ENSO),physiological characterisation <strong>of</strong> congeners or conspecific organisms inhabiting <strong>the</strong> intertidal <strong>and</strong>shallow subtidal zones along <strong>the</strong> latitudinal gradient <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> HCS would be particularly interesting.Moreover, since algal availability increases from nor<strong>the</strong>rn to sou<strong>the</strong>rn Chile (Santelices & Marquet1998), <strong>and</strong> physiological compensation associated with environmental stress increases cost <strong>of</strong> living(Somero 2002, Stillman 2002), latitudinal changes in food availability should also be consideredin future studies. It appears particularly interesting to examine how increased costs <strong>of</strong> living near<strong>the</strong> distribution limit <strong>of</strong> a species influences its reproductive potential.Reproductive patterns <strong>of</strong> selected marine invertebratesin <strong>the</strong> HCSSome <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> factors that vary with upwelling intensity <strong>and</strong> persistence, such as temperature <strong>and</strong>PP, are known to critically affect per capita reproductive investment <strong>of</strong> marine invertebrates (e.g.,MacDonald & Thompson 1985, 1988, Clarke 1987, Brey 1995, Phillips 2002). In <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>asternPacific, reproductive hot spots coincide with regions exhibiting high PP, which suggests not onlythat bottom-up processes play a <strong>central</strong> role in explaining reproductive output, but also that spatialheterogeneity in reproduction needs to be considered in conservation <strong>and</strong> management plans (Leslieet al. 2005). The clear break in eddy kinetic energy <strong>and</strong> equatorward wind stress reported at 30°Sin <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>astern Pacific (Hormazábal et al. 2004) coincides with two contrasting regimes in chl-aconcentration both in coastal areas <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>fshore (Yuras et al. 2005). Chl-a concentration is negativelycorrelated with seawater temperature along <strong>the</strong> HCS (Strub et al. 1991, Thomas et al. 2001b).The effects <strong>of</strong> small- <strong>and</strong> large-scale variation in environmental conditions related to upwellingpersistence <strong>and</strong> strength on reproductive patterns along <strong>the</strong> HCS have recently been analysed.Primary productivity <strong>and</strong> gonad productionGonad <strong>and</strong> egg production <strong>of</strong> marine invertebrates do not exhibit a clear latitudinal cline in investmentin reproduction along <strong>the</strong> HCS in <strong>central</strong> Chile (Fernández et al. 2007). However, gonad productionshows variable patterns throughout <strong>the</strong> study region, which extends from 28°S to 36°S, <strong>and</strong> thisvariability appears related to <strong>the</strong> trophic level <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> species being investigated <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> proximity <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> study sites to upwelling centres. Carnivores such as Concholepas concholepas <strong>and</strong> Acanthinamonodon do not show variation in gonad investment between 28°S <strong>and</strong> 36°S (Figure 19). In contrast,some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> dominant intertidal suspension-feeding species, Perumytilus purpuratus <strong>and</strong> Nothochthamalusscabrosus, <strong>and</strong> one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most abundant herbivores, Chiton granosus, exhibit strongvariation in gonad production among sites, even between adjacent locations (Fernández et al. 2007).Investment in reproduction <strong>of</strong> suspension-feeding <strong>and</strong> herbivore species is constantly higher insome sites (e.g., Los Molles 32°24′S, Consistorial 33°49′S) <strong>and</strong> lower in o<strong>the</strong>rs (e.g., Montemar32°96′S, Matanzas 33°96′S). Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, <strong>the</strong>re is a positive <strong>and</strong> significant correlation betweeninvestment in gonads among Perumytilus purpuratus, Nothochthamalus scabrosus <strong>and</strong> Chitongranosus (p always < 0.05; P. purpuratus-N. scabrosus: R = 0.89, P. purpuratus-Ch. granosus:265

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!