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January 6, 2023PLoS ONEOpen Access

Patterns and drivers of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in the kelp forests of southern Patagonia

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Authors

AFAlan M. FriedlanderEBEnric BallesterosJCJennifer E. Caselle

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Overview

Ecological survey reveals wave exposure and salinity drive macroinvertebrate biodiversity in Patagonian kelp forests, highlighting baseline community structures in remote sub-Antarctic marine...

Key Points

  • To evaluate the distribution, diversity, and abundance of marine benthic macroinvertebrates across southern Patagonian kelp forests and identify the primary environmental drivers structuring these communities.
  • Analyzed 120 quantitative underwater belt transects (25 x 2 m) across five sub-Antarctic regions spanning southern Chile and Argentina.
  • Evaluated taxonomic richness and assemblage variation against environmental variables, including wave exposure, salinity, and geographic region.
  • Documented 185 unique macroinvertebrate taxa across 10 phyla, with taxon richness per transect peaking at Isla de los Estados and reaching its lowest levels at Diego Ramírez.
  • Wave exposure accounted for 28% of the variation in trophic structure, followed by salinity (12%) and region (11%), with Kawésqar National Reserve exhibiting distinct assemblages dominated by deposit feeders.

Cite This Study

Friedlander et al. (2023) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aaa3b144b4ebaffcde9dd60https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279200
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