Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Food Webs and Functional Aspects of the Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, Community in the Beagle Channel, Chile

  • Conference paper
Antarctic Nutrient Cycles and Food Webs

Summary

Food webs were studied in coastal belts of Macrocystis pyrifera in the Beagle Channel, mainly at Puerto Toro (55° 05′S, 67° 04′W), by SCUBA diving during 6 field trips between August 1979 and December 1980. I report a general connectedness web, showing trophic relationships among macro invertebrates and algae. The web is capped by the trophic generalist starfish, Cosmasterias lurida. Four species of sea-urchins are present in the community: Loxechinus albus, Pseudechinus magellanicus, Arbacia dufresnei and Austrocidaris canaliculata. Experimental manipulation of the 2 most abundant species, L. albus and P. magellanicus, demonstrated that they did not over-exploit live plants of M. pyrifera; instead they used as their main food item the abundant subtidal algal material drifting in the area. Since I found no high-trophic-level keystone species in the community, I discuss certain density independent factors that could control sea-urchin populations. I predict that, even within a restricted geographical area, different degrees of grazer-plant (sea-urchins — M. pyrifera) interactions can be found within the same species assemblage. I suggest that in kelp communities the sea-urchin — live Macrocystis ecological interactions are changeable and cannot be determined a priori.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Aguayo A, Maturana R (1973) Presencia del lobo marino comùn (Otaria flavescens)en el litoral chileno. Biol Pesq, Chile 6: 45–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrales HL, Lobban CS (1975) The comparative ecology of Macrocystis pyrifera, with emphasis on the forests of Chubut, Argentina. J Ecol 63: 657–677

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castilla JC (1980) Perspectivas de investigation en estructura y dinàmica de comunidades intermareales rocosas de Chile Central. Il Depredadores de alto nivel trófico. Medio Ambiente 5 (12): 190–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Castilla JC, Bahamondes I (1979) Observactiones conductuales y ecológicas sobre Lutra felina(Molina) 1782 (Carnivora: Mustelidae) en las zonas Central y Centro-Norte de Chile. Arch Biol Med Ex 12: 119–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Castilla JC, Moreno C (1982) Sea urchins and Macrocystis pyrifera: Experimental test of their ecological relations in southern Chile. International Echinoderm Conference, Tampa Bay. Lawrence JM (ed) ( AA Balkema, Rotterdam ) pp 257–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Dayton PK (1974) Kelp communities of southern South America. Antarct J US 9 (1): 22–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Dayton PK, Rosenthal RJ, Mahan LC (1973) Kelp community in the Chilean archipelago: R/V Hero Cruise 72–5. Antarct J US 8 (2): 34–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Dayton PK, Robilliand GA, Paine RT, Dayton LB (1974) Biological accomodation in the benthic community at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Ecol Monogr 44 (1): 105–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dayton PK, Rosenthal RJ, Mahan LC, Antezana T (1977) Population structure and foraging biology of the predaceous Chilean asteroid Meyenaster gelatinosusand the escape biology of its prey. Mar Biol 39: 361–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deaborn JH (1977) Food and feeding characteristics of antarctic asteroids and ophiuroids. In: Llanos GA (ed) “Proceedings of the 3rd SCAR Symposium on Antarctic Biology: Adaptations within Antarctic Ecosystems” pp 293–326

    Google Scholar 

  • Estes JA, Palmisano JF (1974) Sea otters: their role in structuring nearshore communities. Science (Wash DC) 185: 1058–1060

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Estes JA, Smith NS, Palmisano JF (1978) Sea otter predation and community organization in the western Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Ecology 59 (4): 822–833

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Humprey PS, Bridge D, Reynolds PW, Peterson RT (1970) Birds of Isla Grande (Tierra de Fuego). Preliminary Smithsonian Manual University of Kansas, Museum of Natural History 411 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Leighton DL, Jones LG, North WJ (1966) Ecological relationship between giant kelp and sea urchins in Southern California. 5th International Symposium on Seaweeds pp 141–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowry LF, Pearse JS (1973) Abalones and sea urchins in an area inhabited by seaotters. Mar Biol 23: 213–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mattison JE, Trent JD, Shanks AL, Akin TB, Pearse JS (1977) Movement and feeding activity of the red sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus franciscanusadjacent to a kelp forest. Mar Biol 39: 25–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno C, Jara F (1981) Relaciones entre los peces y Macrocystis pyriferaen cinturones costeros de islas Sur-Fueginas, Chile. In: Informe Final, Biologia y Factibilidad de Utilización de Praderas de Macrocystis pyriferaen Puerto Toro, Isla Navarino, Chile. Prep by Santelices B pp 440–482

    Google Scholar 

  • Moreno C, Sutherland J (1982) Physical and biological processes in a Macrocystis pyriferacommunity near Valdivia, Chile. Oecologia 55: 1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neushul M (1971) The species of Macrocystis. In: North WJ (ed) The Biology of giant kelp beds (Macrocystis)in California. Nova Hedwigia 32: 211–222

    Google Scholar 

  • North WJ (1965) Urchin predation. In: North WJ (ed) Kelp habitats improvement project, Annual Report. 1964–1965, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena California pp 95–108

    Google Scholar 

  • North WJ (1971) Introduction and background. In: North WJ (ed) The biology of giant kelp beds (Macrocystis)in California. Nova Hedwigia 32: 1–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Ojeda P, Santelices B (1980) Comunidades de macro-invertebrados en discos de Macrocystisen Puerto Toro, Provincia Antarctica, Chile. In: Informe Final, Biologia y Factibilidad de Utilización de Praderas de Macrocystis pyriferaen Puerto Toro, Isla Navarin, Chile. Prep by Santelices B, pp 193–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Paine RT (1969) The Pisaster—Tegulainteraction: prey patches predator food preference and ecology intertidal community structure. Ecology 50: 950–961

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paine RT (1971) A short-term experimental investigation of resource partitioning in a New Zealand rocky intertidal habitat. Ecology 52: 1096–1106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paine RT (1974) Intertidal community structure. Experimental studies on the relationship between a dominant competitor and its principal predator. Oecologia 15: 93–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paine RT (1980) Food Webs: Linkage, interaction strength and community infrastructure. J Anim Ecol 49: 667–685

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palmisano JF, Estes JE (1977) Sea otters: pillars of the nearshore community. Northwest and Alaska, Fisheries Center Processed Report US Department of Commerce NOAA pp 1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearse JS, Hines AH (1979) Expansion of a Central California Kelp forest following the mass mortality of Sea Urchins. Mar Biol 51: 83–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Power G, Georgoire J (1978) Predation by freshwater seals on the fish community of Lower Seal Lake, Quebec. J Fish Res Board Can 35: 844–850

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simenstad CA, Estes JA, Kenyon KW (1978) Aleuts, Sea Otters, and alternate stable-state communities. Science (Wash DC) 200: 403–411

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stuardo J, Solis I (1963) Biometria y observations generales sobre la biologia de Lithodes antarcticaJacquinot. Gayana (11): 1–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Vàsquez J, Castilla JC (1980) Estructura poblacional, dieta y preferencia alimentaria de Cosmasterias lurida(Asteroidea, Asteriinae) en Puerto Toro, Isla Navarino. In: Informe Final. Biologia y Factibilidad de Utilización de Praderas de Macrocystis pyriferaen Puerto Toro, Isla Navarin, Chile. Prep by Santelices B pp 414–439

    Google Scholar 

  • Yelling MB, Agegian CR, Pearse JS (1977) Ecological benchmarks in the Santa Cruz County Kelp forests the re-establishment of sea otters. Center for Coastal Marine Studies. University of California, Santa Cruz. Techn Rep (6): 1–125

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias, Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla, 114-D, Santiago, Chile

    J. C. Castilla

Authors
  1. J. C. Castilla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Percy FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, 7700, Rondebosch, South Africa

    Walter R. Siegfried

  2. Foundation for Research Development, C.S.I.R., P.O. Box 395, 0001, Pretoria, South Africa

    Pat R. Condy

  3. British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, CB 3 OET, Cambridge, UK

    Richard M. Laws

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1985 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Castilla, J.C. (1985). Food Webs and Functional Aspects of the Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, Community in the Beagle Channel, Chile. In: Siegfried, W.R., Condy, P.R., Laws, R.M. (eds) Antarctic Nutrient Cycles and Food Webs. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-82275-9_57

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-82275-9_57

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-82277-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-82275-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation