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Floating kelps in Patagonian Fjords: an important vehicle for rafting invertebrates and its relevance for biogeography

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Abstract

Floating macroalgae are common dispersal vehicles for associated benthic invertebrates. In order to investigate the importance of kelp rafts for species dispersal in the Patagonian Fjord Region (PFR), the abundance and distribution pattern of floating kelps (Macrocystis pyrifera, Durvillaea antarctica) and of the invertebrate fauna associated with M. pyrifera were evaluated during austral spring of 2002–2005, 2008 and 2010. In the southernmost Magellan Region (MR), benthic M. pyrifera were additionally sampled to compare the community structures in both conditions. Floating kelps were abundant throughout the entire PFR, harbouring a diverse and abundant invertebrate fauna. The density of floating kelps increased towards the south. In the MR, a loss of species was observed between benthic and floating condition (e.g. decapods, echinoderms, several peracarid species), but a high diversity of organisms from all major phyla were observed on rafts. Throughout the PFR, the predominant rafting species belonged to the peracarids, molluscs and annelids, but the community composition differed between floating samples from the northern and southern zones of the PFR. Relative abundances of peracarids were higher in northern zones, whereas molluscs and annelids dominated in the southern areas. Species of the peracarid genera Peramphithoe, Gondogeneia, Bircenna and Limnoria were shared between all areas. The results suggest that kelp rafts not only contribute to local population connectivity in the PFR, but could also be an important dispersal vehicle for rafting species along the PFR in north–south direction, crossing the biogeographic boundary around Taitao Peninsula. Furthermore, the MR appears to be an important stepping stone for species dispersal via kelp rafting in the subantarctic region.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Lars Gutow for his advice during the preparation of this manuscript. Two anonymous reviewers provided many suggestions that helped to improve the initial manuscript. Special thanks go to Izadora Mattiello, Reetta Väätäinen and Analisa Waller for their assistance in faunal identification and to all former members of the BEDIM laboratory who helped to analyse the samples of previous CIMAR-Fiordo projects. We also thank the crews and colleagues who accompanied and helped us during the research cruises on board RV “AGOR Vidal Gormaz” and “Abate Molina”. This study received financial support through the research programs CIMAR 8, 9, 10, 11, 14 and 16 Fiordos from the Comité Oceanográfico Nacional (CONA).

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  1. Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo, 1281, Coquimbo, Chile

    Carla-Sophie Wichmann, Iván A. Hinojosa & Martin Thiel

  2. Fachbreich 2 (Biologie/Chemie), Universität Bremen, Loebener Str./NW2, Bremen, Germany

    Carla-Sophie Wichmann

  3. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Nubeena Crescent, Taroona, TAS, 7053, Australia

    Iván A. Hinojosa

  4. Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile

    Martin Thiel

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  1. Carla-Sophie Wichmann
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Wichmann, CS., Hinojosa, I.A. & Thiel, M. Floating kelps in Patagonian Fjords: an important vehicle for rafting invertebrates and its relevance for biogeography. Mar Biol 159, 2035–2049 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-1990-x

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