CEAZA
Genetic diversity of Colobanthus quitensis across the Drake Passage.
Acuña-Rodríguez, I., Oses, R., Cortés-Vasquez, J., Torres-Díaz, C., & Molina-Montenegro, M.
The Drake Passage arises as a likely route for gene flow into Antarctica, as it is the shortest path between this continent and the rest of the world. Despite this, long-distance dispersion into Antarctica could be particularly complex for terrestrial biota. To compare the levels of genetic diversity between Antarctic and South American populations of the Antarctic pearlwort, Colobanthus quitensis, we conducted the first estimation of genetic diversity in this species using amplified fragment length polymorphism. Four populations across the Drake Passage were selected and their genetic composition was characterized. Differences among the levels of genetic diversity were found between the populations analysed as well as between their allelic identities. However, interestingly, their spatial distribution across the Drake Passage suggests a north-to-south gradient of increasing genetic diversity.
Año: 2014
Palabras claves: AFLP, Antarctic vascular plants, Colobanthus quitensis, genetic diversity.
Referencia APA: Acuña-Rodríguez, I., Oses, R., Cortés-Vasquez, J., Torres-Díaz, C., & Molina-Montenegro, M. (2014). Genetic diversity of Colobanthus quitensis across the Drake Passage. Plant Genetic Resources, 12(01), 147-150.
Effect of grazing on distribution and recovery of harvested stands of Lessonia berteroana kelp in northern Chile.
Oróstica, M., Aguilera, M., Donoso, G., Vásquez, J., & Broitman, B.
Understanding the ecological factors regulating exploited natural communities is important in establishing conservation and management strategies. Since the 1960s, artisanal fishermen have harvested up to 300000 dry tons yr-1 of wild populations of Lessonia spp. kelps. Adult kelps form a key habitat on the rocky shores of Chile, and benthic grazers regulate kelp populations by grazing or bulldozing microscopic and juvenile stages. To establish the role of the grazer assemblage in the recovery of kelp stands following harvesting, we conducted a manipulative experiment simulating artisanal kelp extraction and then manipulating the presence of grazers. We followed community succession and spatial distribution of L. berteroana recruits in manipulated and control rocky shore platforms for ca. 12 mo. Inter-individual distances of recruits and spatial autocorrelation analyses showed that the presence of grazers determined a patchy distributional pattern of L. berteroana. The aggregated spatial pattern of kelp recruits in the presence of grazers was followed by numerous coalescence events between small holdfasts, but no coalescence events were observed between recruits in the grazer removal areas. Our results suggest that grazing and recruit coalescence play an important role in the recovery of kelp stands following artisanal harvesting. Incorporating these processes into conservation and management strategies may bolster current strategies, which are based solely on the spatial structure of kelp stands.
Año: 2014
Palabras claves: Algae-herbivore, Harvesting, Grazers, Kelp communities, Spatial structure.
Referencia APA: Oróstica, M., Aguilera, M., Donoso, G., Vásquez, J., & Broitman, B. (2014). Effect of grazing on distribution and recovery of harvested stands of Lessonia berteroana kelp in northern Chile. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 511, 71-82.
Unusual forest growth decline in boreal North America covaries with the retreat of Arctic sea ice.
Girardin, M., Guo, X., De Jong, R., Kinnard, C., Bernier, P., & Raulier, F.
The 20th century was a pivotal period at high northern latitudes as it marked the onset of rapid climatic warming brought on by major anthropogenic changes in global atmospheric composition. In parallel, Arctic sea ice extent has been decreasing over the period of available satellite data records. Here, we document how these changes influenced vegetation productivity in adjacent eastern boreal North America. To do this, we used normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data, model simulations of net primary productivity (NPP) and tree-ring width measurements covering the last 300 years. Climatic and proxy-climatic data sets were used to explore the relationships between vegetation productivity and Arctic sea ice concentration and extent, and temperatures. Results indicate that an unusually large number of black spruce (Picea mariana) trees entered into a period of growth decline during the late-20th century (62% of sampled trees; n = 724 cross sections of age >70 years). This finding is coherent with evidence encoded in NDVI and simulated NPP data. Analyses of climatic and vegetation productivity relationships indicate that the influence of recent climatic changes in the studied forests has been via the enhanced moisture stress (i.e. greater water demands) and autotrophic respiration amplified by the declining sea ice concentration in Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait. The recent decline strongly contrasts with other growth reduction events that occurred during the 19th century, which were associated with cooling and high sea ice severity. The recent decline of vegetation productivity is the first one to occur under circumstances related to excess heat in a 300-year period, and further culminates with an intensifying wildfire regime in the region. Our results concur with observations from other forest ecosystems about intensifying temperature-driven drought stress and tree mortality with ongoing climatic changes.
Año: 2014
Palabras claves: Bayesian; Canada; carbon; climate change; multivariate adaptive regression splines; process-based model 3PG; Quebec; regime shifts; satellite imagery; wavelet coherency.
Referencia APA: Girardin, M., Guo, X., De Jong, R., Kinnard, C., Bernier, P., & Raulier, F. (2014). Unusual forest growth decline in boreal North America covaries with the retreat of Arctic sea ice. Glob Change Biol, 20(3), 851-866.
Rivers as a source of marine litter – A study from the SE Pacific.
Rech, S., Macaya-Caquilpán, V., Pantoja, J., Rivadeneira, M., Jofre Madariaga, D., & Thiel, M.
Composition and abundance of persistent buoyant litter (plastics, polystyrene and manufactured wood) were investigated at riversides and on adjacent coastal beaches of four rivers flowing into the SE Pacific Ocean. Persistent buoyant litter made up the main share of litter at riversides (36–82%) and on coastal beaches near the river mouths (67–86%). The characteristic litter composition of each river is attributable to human influences along its course. Riverine litter items were deposited to both sides of the river mouths on coastal beaches, and their abundance generally declined with distance from the river mouth. However, maximum litter accumulations were often found on beaches north of the river mouth, suggesting a long-term influence of the prevailing equatorward low-level jet along the Chilean coast. The results confirm that riverine transport has an important impact on litter abundances on coastal beaches.
Año: 2014
Palabras claves: Riverine litter; Litter composition; Litter abundance; Marine beaches; Riversides.
Referencia APA: Rech, S., Macaya-Caquilpán, V., Pantoja, J., Rivadeneira, M., Jofre Madariaga, D., & Thiel, M. (2014). Rivers as a source of marine litter – A study from the SE Pacific. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 82(1-2), 66-75
Environmental tolerance of the two invasive species Ciona intestinalis and Codium fragile: their invasion potential along a temperate coast.
Jofré Madariaga, D., Rivadeneira, M., Tala, F., & Thiel, M.
Ciona intestinalis and Codium fragile are among the most successful invasive species in marine systems worldwide, and they are currently in the process of expanding their distributional ranges along the Chilean coast. Herein we evaluated whether their tolerance to a wide range of environmental conditions contributes to the invasion potential of these two species. To examine the environmental tolerance and performance (e.g., growth) of these non-indigenous species, unifactorial experiments (8–10 days) were conducted with different environmental factors (solar radiation, salinity and temperature). Based on the results, the potential risk of invasion along the Chilean coast was evaluated for both species using a mechanistic niche modeling approach. Both species can tolerate extensive ranges of the abiotic factors salinity and temperature, with C. intestinalis being more tolerant to cold-temperate waters. Also, C. intestinalis was more susceptible to high light intensities than C. fragile. These results confirm those of other experiments, and the outcome of the niche modeling shows that both species can potentially invade most regions of the Chilean coast with the exception of the Magellan region. The results suggest that physiological capacity to tolerate and perform in a wide range of physical conditions is a pre-requisite for successful invasions by littoral biota, but predation and possibly competitive exclusion can slow down the invasion success of C. intestinalis, which in contrast to C. fragile, is consumed by many benthic predators. Sexual and asexual reproduction as well as buoyancy of its thalli further contribute to the dispersal and colonization success of C. fragile. Based on these considerations, it is concluded that the invasion risk of C. fragile along the Chilean coast is substantially higher than that of C. intestinalis.
Año: 2014
Palabras claves: Invasive species, Environmental tolerance, Chilean coastInvasion risk, Niche modeling.
Referencia APA: Jofré Madariaga, D., Rivadeneira, M., Tala, F., & Thiel, M. (2014). Environmental tolerance of the two invasive species Ciona intestinalis and Codium fragile: their invasion potential along a temperate coast. Biol Invasions, 16(12), 2507-2527.
Seasonal sediment fluxes forcing supraglacial melting on the Wright Lower Glacier, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica.
MacDonell, S., Fitzsimons, S., & Mölg, T.
Cold-based glaciers exist in low temperature and low humidity environments in which shortwave radiation is the largest source of energy to the glacier surface and the energy budget is very sensitive to the surface albedo. Consequently, the presence of relatively low volumes of debris on glacier surfaces has a significant impact on the timing, magnitude and rate of ablation at the surface. The aim of this study is to understand how the presence of sediment on the glacier surface at the start of the melt season can affect meltwater generation and delivery on a cold-based glacier. A combination of field measurements, energy balance modelling and chemical mixing modelling were used on the Wright Lower Glacier, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, between October 2005 and January 2006 to address this aim. In this system, sediment was transported onto the glacier surface during the winter months (March–October) by foehn winds, which reduced surface albedo at the start of the summer melt season. The areas of the glacier on which sediment accumulated began to melt earlier than other parts of the glacier and experienced a longer melt season. Over the study period, the total ablation on the dirty surfaces was nine times greater than for clean ice. Ablation on the dirty surfaces is dominated by melting, whereas sublimation dominates the clean ice. As the sediment was unevenly distributed over the glacier surface, the variation in melt amount and timing drove the development of a cryoconite hole system. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Año: 2013
Palabras claves: Glacier hydrology; cryoconite hole; glacier energy balance; hydrochemistry.
Referencia APA: MacDonell, S., Fitzsimons, S., & Mölg, T. (2013). Seasonal sediment fluxes forcing supraglacial melting on the Wright Lower Glacier, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Hydrol. Process., n/a-n/a.
Trends in Antarctic ecological research in Latin America shown by publications in international journals.
Stotz, G., Salgado-Luarte, C., Rios, R., Acuña-Rodriguez, I., Carrasco-Urra, F., Molina-Montenegro, M., & Gianoli, E.
Antarctica is a highly interesting region for ecologists because of its extreme climatic conditions and the uniqueness of its species. In this article, we describe the trends in Antarctic ecological research participation by Latin American countries. In a survey of articles indexed by the ISI Web of Science, we searched under the categories “Ecology,” “Biodiversity Conservation” and “Evolutionary Biology” and found a total of 254 research articles published by Latin American countries. We classified these articles according to the country of affiliation, kingdom of the study species, level of biological organization and environment. Our main finding is that there is a steady increase in the relative contribution of Latin American countries to Antarctic ecological research. Within each category, we found that marine studies are more common than terrestrial studies. Between the different kingdoms, most studies focus on animals and most studies use a community approach. The leading countries in terms of productivity were Argentina, Chile and Brazil, with Argentina showing the highest rate of increase.
Año: 2013
Palabras claves: Antarctica; Argentina; Brazil; Chile; research trends; scientific productivity.
Referencia APA: Stotz, G., Salgado-Luarte, C., Rios, R., Acuña-Rodriguez, I., Carrasco-Urra, F., Molina-Montenegro, M., & Gianoli, E. (2013). Trends in Antarctic ecological research in Latin America shown by publications in international journals. Polar Research, 32(0).
Influence of contrasting environments on seed composition of two quinoa genotypes: nutritional and functional properties.
Miranda, M., Vega-Gálvez, A., Martínez, E., López, J., Marín, R., Aranda, M., & Fuentes, F.
Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) in Chile represents a source of germplasm with high nutritional value. However, there is little information available related to quinoa seed quality grown under contrasting environments. In this study we evaluated the changes on seed composition of seeds of two lowland/coastal quinoa genotypes grown under arid (Vicuna) and cold-temperate (Temuco) conditions in Chile. Results showed that in the case of 'Regalona Baer' and 'Villarrica' genotypes the arid location (with irrigation) led to a significant increase (P < 0.05) in grain yield (4.2 and 5.1 t ha-1, respectively), soluble dietary fiber (16.8 ± 0.4 and 28.9 ± 2.1 g kg-1 DM, respectively), vitamin B3 (2.44 ± 0.005 and 2.26 ± 0.04 mg 100 g-1 DM, respectively), saponins (3.22 ± 0.38 mg 100 g-1 DM, 'Regalona Baer'), phenolic compounds (19.2 ± 5.48 and 31.92 ± 1.14 mg gallic acid 100 g-1 DM, respectively) and components of proximate analysis, except protein content. The cold-temperate climate (rainfed) affected positively seed size (2.22 ± 0.17 mm 'Villarrica') and 1000 seed weight (3.08 ± 0.08 and 3.29 ± 0.08 g, respectively), as well as insoluble dietary fiber content (112.3 ± 23.8 g kg-1 DM, 'Regalona Baer'). Furthermore, vitamin C was higher in 'Regalona Baer' genotype at arid locality (31.22 ± 4.2 mg 100 g-1 DM), but much higher content was registered in 'Villarrica' genotype at cold-temperate climate (49.3 ± 5.36 mg 100 g-1 DM). The environment-induced relationship among variables and genotypes was consistent with principal component analysis (PCA). The arid region of Vicuna in Chile represents a potential area for quinoa cultivation for lowland/coastal quinoa genotypes, whose nutritional and functional features were affected positively, due to the much more stressing climatic conditions.
Año: 2013
Palabras claves: Chenopodium quinoa, climate stress, antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds, protein, mineral content.
Referencia APA: Miranda, M., Vega-Gálvez, A., Martínez, E., López, J., Marín, R., Aranda, M., & Fuentes, F. (2013). Influence of contrasting environments on seed composition of two quinoa genotypes: nutritional and functional properties. Chilean J. Agric. Res., 73(2), 06-07.
Mesoscale Variation of Mechanisms Contributing to Stability in Rocky Shore Communities.
Valdivia N, González AE, Manzur T, Broitman BR.
Environmental fluctuations can generate asynchronous species’ fluctuations and community stability, due to compensatory dynamics of species with different environmental tolerances. We tested this hypothesis in intertidal hard-bottom communities of north-central Chile, where a persistent upwelling centre maintains a mosaic in sea surface temperatures (SST) over 10s of kilometres along the shore. Coastal upwelling implies colder and temporally more stable SST relative to downstream sites. Uni- and multivariate analyses of multiyear timeseries of SST and species abundances showed more asynchronous fluctuations and higher stability in sites characterised by warmer and more variable SST. Nevertheless, these effects were weakened after including data obtained in sites affected by less persistent upwelling centres. Further, dominant species were more stable in sites exposed to high SST variability. The strength of other processes that can influence community stability, chiefly statistical averaging and overyielding, did not vary significantly between SST regimes. Our results provide observational evidence supporting the idea that exogenously driven compensatory dynamics and the stabilising effects of dominant species can determine the stability of ecosystems facing environmental fluctuations.
Año: 2013
Palabras claves: Community ecology, Algae, Barnacles, Ecosystems, Oceanography, Surface temperature, Taxonomy, Species interactions.
Referencia APA: Valdivia N, González AE, Manzur T, Broitman B. (2013). Mesoscale Variation of Mechanisms Contributing to Stability in Rocky Shore Communities. PLoS ONE 8(1): e54159.
Seabirds modify El Niño effects on tree growth in a southern Pacific island.
Molina-Montenegro, M., Torres-Díaz, C., Gallardo-Cerda, J., Leppe, M., & Gianoli, E.
Oceanic island ecosystems are particularly sensitive to El Niño effects due to their dependence on energy and nutrient inputs from marine systems. Seabirds play a key role in transporting resources of marine origin to insular ecosystems. We report tree-growth patterns showing how the effects of El Niño rainy events on tree species in a southern Pacific island depend on the presence of local seabird colonies. We performed manipulative experiments in order to assess the mechanisms underlying these patterns. Tree ring data showed that, in normal years, the growth of all tree species (Aextoxicon punctatum, Cryptocarya alba, and Pinus radiata) was significantly lower in seabird sites compared to adjacent patches without seabirds (control sites). In contrast, in El Niño years, trees formerly hosting seabird colonies grew more than those in control sites. Experiments showed that (1) pine plants on soil from seabird sites grew more than those on soil from control sites, (2) pine individuals with seabird feces on their leaves grew less than those sprayed with an aqueous solution, and (3) soil moisture had little effect on plant growth. The stress produced by massive cormorant nesting on trees, which impairs tree growth and physiological performance, is relieved during El Niño events because of seabird migration due to decreased prey availability and pouring rains that flood nests. Soils enriched by the seabird guano, together with the increased water availability associated with El Niño, foster the growth of trees from seabird sites. We suggest that El Niño may be a key determinant of tree performance in forest communities from island and coastal ecosystems of the Pacific Ocean.
Año: 2013
Palabras claves: Aextoxicon punctatum; colonial seabirds; Cryptocarya alba; ecophysiology; El Niño Southern Oscillation, ENSO; global change; island system interactions; Neotropic Cormorant, Phalacrocorax brasilianus; Pinus radiata; Quiriquina Island, Chilean coast; tree rings.
Referencia APA: Molina-Montenegro, M., Torres-Díaz, C., Gallardo-Cerda, J., Leppe, M., & Gianoli, E. (2013). Seabirds modify El Niño effects on tree growth in a southern Pacific island. Ecology, 94(11), 2415-2425.
Variabilidad ambiental y recursos pesqueros en el Pacifico suroriental: estado de la investigacion y desafios para el manejo pesquero.
Parada, C., Yannicelli, B., Hormazabal, S., Vasquez, S., Porobic, J., & Ernst, B. et al.
Las fluctuaciones en abundancia, biomasa, estructura de edad y patrones de distribución de los recursos pesqueros responden, entre otros, a la variabilidad ambiental. Estas respuestas son consecuencia tanto de efectos climáticos directos sobre los recursos como indirectos actuando sobre niveles tróficos relacionados. En este estudio se revisa: i) el estado del conocimiento de los mecanismos físicos asociados a la variabilidad océano-atmósfera y las escalas de variabilidad espaciales y temporales del ambiente y la relación con recursos marinos, basados en datos observacionales y modelos hidrodinámicos, ii) la relación ambiente-recurso para pesquerías pelágicas, demersales y bentónicas, y el uso de modelos biofísicos para entender estas relaciones, iii) manejo actual de recursos pelágicos, demersales y bentónicos y los alcances en relación al uso de variables ambientales, y iv) se discuten los desafíos hacia la asesoría en relación a las estrategias para mejorar la comprensión de la relación ambiente-recurso, así como, las estrategias para incorporar la modelación biofísica y variables ambientales en modelos operacionales para la asesoría hacia el manejo.
Año: 2013
Palabras claves: Variabilidad ambiental, sistemas de surgencia, recursos pesqueros, modelación biofísica, dinámica poblacional, modelos operacionales para el manejo pesquero, Pacífico suroriental, Chile.
Referencia APA: Parada, C., Yannicelli, B., Hormazabal, S., Vasquez, S., Porobic, J., & Ernst, B. et al. (2013). Variabilidad ambiental y recursos pesqueros en el Pacifico suroriental: estado de la investigacion y desafios para el manejo pesquero. Latin American Journal Of Aquatic Research, 41(1), 1-28.
Differential effects of grazer species on periphyton of a temperate rocky shore.
Aguilera, M., Navarrete, S., & Broitman, B.
Species-specific traits are relevant to understand variation in the effect of grazers on primary producers and are critical in determining their functional roles as controllers of productivity in marine ecosystems. In intertidal habitats, periphyton, composed of bacteria, cyanophytes, microalgae and early stages of macroalgae, constitutes the main food for many benthic grazers. Using field experiments, we examined the overall effect of grazers and the importance of direct and indirect effects of different grazer species on periphyton composition, richness, diversity and productivity. We manipulated the main grazer species present along Chilean rocky shores, enclosing adult individuals of the keyhole limpet Fissurella crassa, the chiton Chiton granosus, the scurrinid limpet Scurria araucana and the pulmonate limpet Siphonaria lessoni. These organisms overlap broadly in diet but exhibit differences in foraging behavior. Differences in the individual effects of grazer species on periphyton productivity, as well as on richness and diversity characterized the assemblage. C. granosus grazing led to lower periphyton productivity, richness and diversity compared with all other grazers, who had positive effects for all variables. Richness and diversity of the major periphyton groups were maximal at intermediate levels of total grazing pressure, highlighting the importance of ecological interactions within the periphyton assemblage. Our results demonstrate the complexity of functional roles and relationships of grazers involved in the control of composition and production of the periphyton assemblage. Given the importance of direct and indirect effects of grazers, understanding species interactions within the microbenthic community can shed light on the mechanisms through which herbivores modify community structure and productivity.
Año: 2013
Palabras claves: Grazer assemblage, Periphyton, Productivity, Diversity, Foraging behavior.
Referencia APA: Aguilera, M., Navarrete, S., & Broitman, B. (2013). Differential effects of grazer species on periphyton of a temperate rocky shore. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 484, 63-78.