CEAZA
Climatic drivers of tree growth in a swamp forest island in the semiarid coast of Chile.
Peña, M., Barichivich, J., & Maldonado, A.
Isolated patches of swamp forests surrounded by xerophytic vegetation occur along the semiarid coast of Chile. Supported by shallow groundwater, these unique ecosystems have endured a long-term aridity trend during the Holocene and historical land use change. In this study, we investigated the patterns and climate drivers of annual tree growth in a coastal swamp dominated by the hygrophilous tree Myrceugenia exsucca. A tree-ring width chronology spanning the period 1864–2007 was developed and compared with long-term precipitation, temperature and soil moisture dynamics. There is a general lack of significant climate response during the earlier part of the 20th century, but a time-dependent positive growth response to temperature and moisture variability took place following partial drainage of the forest (1930s). Furthermore, a shift from a concurrent to a lagged growth response to moisture occurred around 1980, coinciding with increased frequency of ENSO-related moisture extremes. These results suggest that the ecological functioning of swamp forests in this region is very resilient to short-term climate variability, but even slight drainage disturbance can trigger very dynamic growth responses to climate variability. The degree of anthropogenic disturbance of these ecosystems will likely influence their response to projected increases in regional aridity during the coming decades.
Año: 2014
Palabras claves: Dendrochronology; Drought; ENSO; Groundwater; Swamp forest.
Referencia APA: Peña, M., Barichivich, J., & Maldonado, A. (2014). Climatic drivers of tree growth in a swamp forest island in the semiarid coast of Chile. Journal Of Arid Environments, 109, 15-22.
Geographical Variation of Shell Thickness in the Mussel Perumytilus purpuratus Along the Southeast Pacific Coast.
Briones, C., M.m., Rivadeneira, M., Fernández, R., Guiñez.
At broad geographical scales, the variation in bivalve shell thickness can be modulated by environmental factors that vary with latitude, such as sea surface temperature (SST), seawater pH, or calcium carbonate availability. Mussels usually form multilayered beds, and shell thickness is also expected to be affected by density and layering due to intraspecific competition. In this work, we explored the geographical variation of shell thickness in the intertidal mussel Perumytilus purpuratus between 18° and 42°S along the southeastern Pacific coast. We tested the hypothesis that there was a positive relationship between shell thickness and SST, and then we explored other variables that could have an effect on thickness, such as density, number of layers, and others environmental variables (pH and calcite concentration). The expected positive linear relationship between shell thickness and sea surface temperature was not found, but when the other population variables were included in the analysis, an unexpected inverse SST-thickness relationships appeared as significant, probably because this species could be adapted to colder and more acid seawater as are those of the tips of South America. Thickness was also negatively affected by density, which was expected for a gregarious species howing high intraspecific competition.Finally, our results highlight the importance of including density and crowding effects when macroscale patterns are explored, particularly in gregarious species, since these patterns could also be modulated by density-dependent processes, which might then override latitudinal trends of shell thickness when they are not included in the analyses.
Año: 2014
Palabras claves:
Referencia APA: Briones, C., M.m., Rivadeneira, M., Fernández, R., Guiñez. (2014). Geographical Variation of Shell Thickness in the Mussel Perumytilus purpuratus Along the Southeast Pacific Coast. Biol. Bull. 227: 221–231.
How does spatial variability of climate affect catchment streamflow predictions?.
Patil, S., Wigington, P., Leibowitz, S., Sproles, E., & Comeleo, R.
Spatial variability of climate can negatively affect catchment streamflow predictions if it is not explicitly accounted for in hydrologic models. In this paper, we examine the changes in streamflow predictability when a hydrologic model is run with spatially variable (distributed) meteorological inputs instead of spatially uniform (lumped) meteorological inputs. Both lumped and distributed versions of the EXP-HYDRO model are implemented at 41 meso-scale (500–5000 km2) catchments in the Pacific Northwest region of USA. We use two complementary metrics of long-term spatial climate variability, moisture homogeneity index (IM) and temperature variability index (ITV), to analyze the performance improvement with distributed model. Results show that the distributed model performs better than the lumped model in 38 out of 41 catchments, and noticeably better (>10% improvement) in 13 catchments. Furthermore, spatial variability of moisture distribution alone is insufficient to explain the observed patterns of model performance improvement. For catchments with low moisture homogeneity (IM < 80%), IM is a better predictor of model performance improvement than ITV; whereas for catchments with high moisture homogeneity (IM > 80%), ITV is a better predictor of performance improvement than IM. Based on the results, we conclude that: (1) catchments that have low homogeneity of moisture distribution are the obvious candidates for using spatially distributed meteorological inputs, and (2) catchments with a homogeneous moisture distribution benefit from spatially distributed meteorological inputs if they also have high spatial variability of precipitation phase (rain vs. snow).
Año: 2014
Palabras claves: Hydrologic model; Climate variability; Streamflow; Catchment.
Referencia APA: Patil, S., Wigington, P., Leibowitz, S., Sproles, E., & Comeleo, R. (2014). How does spatial variability of climate affect catchment streamflow predictions?. Journal Of Hydrology, 517, 135-145. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.05.017
Environmental and climatic changes in central Chilean Patagonia since the Late Glacial (Mallín El Embudo, 44° S).
de Porras, M., Maldonado, A., Quintana, F., Martel-Cea, A., Reyes, O., & Méndez, C.
Multi-millennial environmental and climatic changes in central Chilean Patagonia (44–49° S) during the Last Glacial–Interglacial cycle have been of particular interest as changes in the position and strength of the southern westerlies are the major forcing factor conditioning the environmental dynamics. Recent attempts to reconstruct regional environmental and climatic signals from central Chilean Patagonia reveal some discrepancies and unclear issues among the records. This paper presents the 13 ka pollen and charcoal records from Mallín El Embudo (44° 40' S, 71° 42' W) located in the deciduous Nothofagus forest in the middle Río Cisnes valley. The paper aims to (1) establish the timing and magnitude of local vegetation changes and fire activity since the Late Glacial and (2) integrate these results at the regional scale in order to discuss the discrepancies and depict the environmental and climatic dynamics in central Chilean Patagonia since the Late Glacial. Open landscapes dominated by grasses associated with scattered Nothofagus forest patches dominated the middle Río Cisnes valley between 13 and 11.2 ka suggesting low effective moisture but also indicating that landscape configuration after glacial retreat was still ongoing. At 11.2 ka, the sudden development of an open and quite dynamic Nothofagus forest probably associated with the synchronous high fire activity occurred, suggesting a rise in effective moisture associated with dry summers. Since 9.5 ka, the record reflects the presence of a closed Nothofagus forest related to higher effective moisture conditions than before combined with moderate dry summers that may have triggered a high frequency of low-magnitude crown fires that did not severely affect the forest. The forest experienced a slight canopy opening after 5.7 ka, probably due to slightly drier conditions than before followed by a sudden change to open forest conditions around 4.2 ka associated with fire and volcanic disturbances. Around 2 ka, the recovery of a closed Nothofagus forest related to slightly wetter conditions (similar to present) occurred and persisted under highly variable climatic conditions up to 0.1 ka when massive forest burning and logging due to European settlements occurred. Central Chilean Patagonian climatic and environmental changes at millennial–centennial timescales since the Late Glacial were driven by changes in the southern westerlies latitudinal position and/or intensity, but during the late Holocene fire, volcanism and humans arose as forces contributing to environmental dynamics.
Año: 2014
Palabras claves:
Referencia APA: de Porras, M., Maldonado, A., Quintana, F., Martel-Cea, A., Reyes, O., & Méndez, C. (2014). Environmental and climatic changes in central Chilean Patagonia since the Late Glacial (Mallín El Embudo, 44° S). Climate Of The Past, 10(3), 1063-1078.
Induced twining in Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth.: response threshold and induction by volatiles and snail damage.
Atala, C., Quilodrán, M., & Molina-montenegro, M.
Twining in some Convolvulaceae can be induced by leaf damage and jasmonic acid application. This induced response is believed to reduce the likelihood of future leaf damage and it is limited by drought. This response has been detected in the Convolvulaceae family using artificial damage. The mechanisms and ecological implications of this response are still unknown. In this study was tested if the induced twining requires a threshold level and if it is induced by volatiles and/or by snail damage. Three separated greenhouse experiments were conducted in order to test the induced twining in Ipomoea purpurea (Convolvulaceae) by applying different levels of artificial damage (0, 1, 5, 10 perforations to the leaves), volatiles (ground leaves) and natural damage by snails. Plants receiving the two higher damage levels twined faster than the individuals exposed to the two lower damage levels. Plants exposed to grounded leaves (volatiles) twined faster than control plants. Finally, twining was induced by snail damage more than in undamaged plants. Most growth traits did not change in any treatment. Twining in I. pupurea can be induced by artificial or natural damage, and also by volatiles emitted by damaged leaves of neighbor plants, making the induced twining an ecologically relevant response.
Año: 2014
Palabras claves: Induced twining, Ipomoea purpurea, Convolvulaceae, induced responses, herbivory.
Referencia APA: Atala, C., Quilodrán, M., & Molina-montenegro, M. (2014). Induced twining in Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth.: response threshold and induction by volatiles and snail damage. Gayana Bot., 71(2), 181-187.
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.
Environmental and climatic changes in Central Chilean Patagonia since the Late Glacial (Mallín El Embudo, 44° S).
de Porras, M., Maldonado, A., Quintana, F., Martel-Cea, A., Reyes, O., & Méndez, C.
Multi-millennial environmental and climatic changes in central Chilean Patagonia (44–49° S) during the Last Glacial–Interglacial cycle have been of particular interest as changes in the position and strength of the southern westerlies are the major forcing factor conditioning the environmental dynamics. Recent attempts to reconstruct regional environmental and climatic signals from central Chilean Patagonia reveal some discrepancies and unclear issues among the records. This paper presents the 13 ka pollen and charcoal records from Mallín El Embudo (44° 40' S, 71° 42' W) located in the deciduous Nothofagus forest in the middle Río Cisnes valley. The paper aims to (1) establish the timing and magnitude of local vegetation changes and fire activity since the Late Glacial and (2) integrate these results at the regional scale in order to discuss the discrepancies and depict the environmental and climatic dynamics in central Chilean Patagonia since the Late Glacial. Open landscapes dominated by grasses associated with scattered Nothofagus forest patches dominated the middle Río Cisnes valley between 13 and 11.2 ka suggesting low effective moisture but also indicating that landscape configuration after glacial retreat was still ongoing. At 11.2 ka, the sudden development of an open and quite dynamic Nothofagus forest probably associated with the synchronous high fire activity occurred, suggesting a rise in effective moisture associated with dry summers. Since 9.5 ka, the record reflects the presence of a closed Nothofagus forest related to higher effective moisture conditions than before combined with moderate dry summers that may have triggered a high frequency of low-magnitude crown fires that did not severely affect the forest. The forest experienced a slight canopy opening after 5.7 ka, probably due to slightly drier conditions than before followed by a sudden change to open forest conditions around 4.2 ka associated with fire and volcanic disturbances. Around 2 ka, the recovery of a closed Nothofagus forest related to slightly wetter conditions (similar to present) occurred and persisted under highly variable climatic conditions up to 0.1 ka when massive forest burning and logging due to European settlements occurred. Central Chilean Patagonian climatic and environmental changes at millennial–centennial timescales since the Late Glacial were driven by changes in the southern westerlies latitudinal position and/or intensity, but during the late Holocene fire, volcanism and humans arose as forces contributing to environmental dynamics.
Año: 2013
Palabras claves:
Referencia APA: de Porras, M., Maldonado, A., Quintana, F., Martel-Cea, A., Reyes, O., & Méndez, C. (2013). Environmental and climatic changes in Central Chilean Patagonia since the Late Glacial (Mallín El Embudo, 44° S). Clim. Past Discuss., 9(5), 5747-5784.
Hydrochemical and isotopic patterns in a calc-alkaline Cu- and Au-rich arid Andean basin: The Elqui River watershed, North Central Chile.
Oyarzún, J., Carvajal, M., Maturana, H., Núñez, J., Kretschmer, N., & Amezaga, Röttingd, T.S., Strauche, G., Thynef, G., Oyarzún,R.
The geochemistry of surface water and groundwater from the Elqui River basin, North-Central Chile, was studied in spring 2007 and fall 2008 to obtain a general understanding of the factors and mechanisms controlling the water chemistry of steep rivers located in mineral-rich, arid to semi arid zones. Besides its uniform intermediate igneous lithology, this basin is known for acid drainage and high As contents in the El Indio Au–Cu–As district, in its Andean head. Abundant tailings deposits are present in the middle part of the basin, where agricultural activities are important. According to the results, the chemical and isotopic composition of the Elqui basin surface water and groundwater is related to uniform calc-alkaline lithology and the major polluting system of the chemically reactive, but closed El Indio mining district. The resulting compositional imprints in surface and ground-water are, (a) high SO4 levels, reaching about 1000 mg/L in the Toro River water, directly draining the mining area; (b) a major depletion of Fe and pollutant metals in surface water after the confluence of the Toro and La Laguna rivers; (c) similar chemical composition of surface and ground-waters that differ in H and O isotopic composition, reflecting the effect of differential evaporation processes downstream of the Puclaro dam; and (d) seasonal variations of Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn in surface water. In contrast, the groundwater chemistry exhibits moderate seasonal changes, mainly in View the MathML source content. In spite of the acid drainage pollution, water quality is adequate for human consumption and irrigation. This is a consequence of both the dominant calc-alkaline lithology and the existing arid climate, resulting in neutral to moderately alkaline pH values that are responsible for the precipitation of metal hydroxides and As sorption by Fe(OH)3.
Año: 2013
Palabras claves:
Referencia APA: Oyarzún, J., Carvajal, M., Maturana, H., Núñez, J., Kretschmer, N., & Amezaga, Röttingd, T.S., Strauche, G., Thynef, G., Oyarzún, R. (2013). Hydrochemical and isotopic patterns in a calc-alkaline Cu- and Au-rich arid Andean basin: The Elqui River watershed, North Central Chile. Applied Geochemistry, 33, 50-63.
Metabolic responses of the squat lobster (Pleuroncodes monodon) larvae to low oxygen concentration.
Yannicelli, B., Paschke, K., González, R., & Castro, L.
Squat lobster populations found in the Humboldt Current System over the continental shelf from ~28 to 37°S release pelagic larvae in sub-surface cold (~11 °C) hypoxic waters. Larvae subsequently spread throughout the water column encountering both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. We analyzed some short- and long-term responses of Pleuroncodes monodon larval metabolism to hypoxia at 11 °C. Routine and postprandial aerobic respiration rates were lower in hypoxia than in normoxia for all zoeal stages. Zoea V oxyconformed, while megalopae oxyregulated down to very low oxygen concentrations. Throughout zoea I development, the rate of nitrogen (protein) accumulation in zoea I was lower, and C:N ratios were higher under hypoxic conditions than in normoxia. Citrate synthase (CS) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) apparent specific activities (as indicators of aerobic and metabolic potentials, respectively) decreased and remained at the same level, respectively, throughout zoea I reared under hypoxic conditions. Anaerobic to aerobic potential (lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)/CS) was higher in organisms reared under hypoxia, and MDH/LDH potential ratios were characteristic of organisms tolerant to hypoxia. In spite of P. monodon zoea endurance and metabolic adaptations to decreasing oxygen tensions, intense hypoxia as such of their release site would affect their overall condition especially toward the end of the molt cycle. Our results indicate the importance of considering the interaction between environmental oxygen variability and recruitment success.
Communicated by H.-O. Portner.
Año: 2013
Palabras claves:
Referencia APA: Yannicelli, B., Paschke, K., González, R., & Castro, L. (2013). Metabolic responses of the squat lobster (Pleuroncodes monodon) larvae to low oxygen concentration. Marine Biology, 160(4), 961-976
Spatial niche differentiation and coexistence at the edge: co-occurrence distribution patterns in Scurria limpets.
Aguilera, M., Valdivia, N., & Broitman, B.
Examining the co-occurrence of taxonomically similar species can provide important information about their niches and coexistence. Segregation at smaller scales can be especially relevant for grazers living at the edge of their geographic distribution, because environmental factors can lead to similar distribution. Related grazer species may show dispersive, i.e. uniform, distribution at small scales (few centimetres) to reduce interference among individuals. We examined intra- and interspecific spatial distribution and habitat use in 2 phylogenetically related intertidal limpets, Scurria viridula and S. zebrina, at the polar and equatorial edge of their geographic distribution, respectively, and in S. araucana, a widely distributed species that overlaps the range of the other 2 species across the southeastern Pacific. S. viridula and S. zebrina overlapped in a narrow geographic zone (ca. 250 km) and reached relatively similar densities and sizes. Intraspecific spatial structure estimated through autocorrelation and individual-to-individual distances was random for S. viridula and variable for S. zebrina and S. araucana, depending on the scale considered; S. zebrina was aggregated at the individual-to-individual distances, while S. araucana was mostly random at this scale. Segregated distribution between S. viridula and S. zebrina was observed at the finer scale, whereas the association with S. araucana was random. Abundance of limpets loosely followed major habitats, namely bare rock and the alga Mazzaella laminarioides, which showed patchy distributions. We suggests that similarity in population traits between S. viridula and S. zebrina found in the overlap zone may be compensated by small-scale spatial segregation. Thus, at the edge of their geographic distribution, coexistence between related species may be influenced by spatial niche differentiation driven by habitat suitability or competition.
Año: 2013
Palabras claves: Coexistence, Geographic edge, Grazers, Habitat type, Niche partitioning, Nearest neighbour, Spatial autocorrelation.
Referencia APA: Aguilera, M., Valdivia, N., & Broitman, B. (2013). Spatial niche differentiation and coexistence at the edge: co-occurrence distribution patterns in Scurria limpets. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 483, 185-198.
Condiciones paleovegetacionales y asentamientos humanos durante el formativo temprano: análisis de polen del sitio Tulán-85 (1.530/1.260-460/420 años cal. a.c.), cuenca del Salar de Atacama.
González-Silvestre, L., Maldonado, A., Núñez, L., Cartajena, I., Carrasco, C., & de Souza, P.
Se presenta el análisis polínico obtenido de una columna estratigráfica que cubre toda la secuencia ocupacional del asentamiento formativo temprano Tulán-85 localizado al sureste del salar de Atacama fechado entre los 1.530-1.260 a 460-420 cal. a.C. Se concluye que es posible diferenciar mediante el polen actual tres pisos altitudinales de vegetación, al tanto que la comparación de las muestras fósiles con aquellas actuales sugieren condiciones de mayor humedad en la base de la secuencia, al comienzo de la fase Tilocalar (1.530-1.260 cal. a.C.). En los niveles medios comienzan los eventos áridos, identificándose al final de la columna los mayores indicadores de aridez. Los antecedentes paleoclimáticos de la alta puna señalan que las ocupaciones pastoralistas de la fase Tilocalar son sincrónicas con el establecimiento de condiciones más húmedas, lo que es concordante con los resultados del análisis polínico. Estas habrían repercutido favorablemente en las ocupaciones pastoralistas en los pisos inferiores. Es importante destacar la identificación de eventos de aridez hacia el final de la ocupación, los que no habían sido descritos con anterioridad para el área de estudio.
Año: 2013
Palabras claves: Formativo Temprano, polen fósil, condiciones húmedas, eventos áridos, salar de Atacama.
Referencia APA: González-Silvestre, L., Maldonado, A., Núñez, L., Cartajena, I., Carrasco, C., & de Souza, P. (2013). Condiciones paleovegetacionales y asentamientos humanos durante el formativo temprano: análisis de polen del sitio Tulán-85 (1.530/1.260-460/420 años cal. a.c.), cuenca del Salar de Atacama. Chungará (Arica), 45(3), 387-410.
Parameterisation of incoming longwave radiation over glacier surfaces in the semiarid Andes of Chile.
MacDonell, S., Nicholson, L., & Kinnard, C.
A good understanding of radiation fluxes is important for calculating energy, and hence, mass exchange at glacier surfaces. This study evaluates incoming longwave radiation measured at two nearby glacier stations in the high Andes of the Norte Chico region of Chile. These data are the first published records of atmospheric longwave radiation measurements in this region. Nine previously published optimised parameterisations for clear sky emissivity all produced results with a root mean square error (RMSE) ~20 W m−2 and bias within ±5 W m−2, which is inline with findings from other regions. Six optimised parameterisations for incoming longwave in all sky conditions were trialled for application to this site, five of which performed comparably well with RMSE on daytime data <18 W m−2 and bias within ±6 W m−2 when applied to the optimisation site and RMSE <20 W m−2 and bias within ±10 W m−2 when applied to the validation site. The parameterisation proposed by Mölg et al. (J Glaciol 55:292-302, 2009) was selected for use in this region. Incorporating the proposed elevation modification into the equation reduced the bias in the modelled incoming longwave radiation for the validation site. It was found that applying the parameterisation optimised in the original work at Kilimanjaro produced good results at both the primary and validation site in this study, suggesting that this formulation may be robust for different high mountain regions.
Año: 2013
Palabras claves:
Referencia APA: MacDonell, S., Nicholson, L., & Kinnard, C. (2013). Parameterisation of incoming longwave radiation over glacier surfaces in the semiarid Andes of Chile. Theoretical And Applied Climatology, 111(3-4), 513-528.