How biophysical interactions associated with sub- and mesoscale structures and migration behavior affect planktonic larvae of the spiny lobster in the Juan Fernández Ridge: A modeling approach

Local and remote physical processes driving variability of the planktonic system in the Juan Fernández Archipelago: A multidisciplinary framework providing conservation insights

“…The red colour represents an ascent (upwelling) of waters and the blue colour a subsidence of them indicator of phytoplankton photosynthetic activity, resulting altogether in a better inference about productivity. Despite the high value of in situ sampling and satellite imagery analysis for this work, the development of a high-resolution model for this area will significantly improve the understanding of physical processes in this system (Hormazábal et al, 2013;Medel et al, 2018;Morales et al, 2012;Porobic et al, 2019). Only then will it be possible to evaluate hypotheses to unravel the specific ecosystem mechanisms operating around RC and SC islands in the JFA.…”

“…However, local oceanographic features can provide the necessary retention to the plankton community that counterbalances the de facto advective condition (Medel et al, 2018;Meerhoff et al, 2018). (Gaines, Gaylord, & Largier, 2003).…”

“…Local structures around RC Island also seem to enforce physical conditions that modulate zooplankton distribution, abundance (Medel et al, 2018) and, potentially, species composition. In order to relate physical attributes of the water column and planktonic data, it is necessary to obtain fine-scale resolution data aligned in the same spatial and temporal scales.…”

“…Moreover, the local or remote oceanographic features (meso and submesoscale features), and their impact on marine communities and fishery resources, have only more recently been shown to be of relevance in the spatial and temporal variability of marine ecosystems (Lévy, Franks, & Smith, 2018;Siegelman, O'Toole, Flexas, Rivière, & Klein, 2019;Snyder, Franks, Talley, Xu, & Kohin, 2017), including insular and seamount regions (Baltar, Arístegui, Gasol, Lekunberri, & Herndl, 2010;Medel et al, 2018;Mendonça et al, 2012). Considering that the JFR ecosystem has been shown to be influenced by local and remote oceanographic structures (Cornejo-Guzmán, 2018;Medel et al, 2018) and that there is still a gap in knowledge on how they affect the pelagic system, this study aims to understand their impact on the structure of planktonic communities around RC Island. For this purpose, variability in phytoplankton (satellite surface Chl-a concentration and conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD)-fluorescence profiles) and zooplankton (in situ mesozooplankton abundance) communities during the spring season (October) in 2016 were analysed during an oceanographic-hydroacoustic survey around the island, in combination with satellite data and modelling products to characterize oceanographic features in the region.…”

The impact of fishing on a highly vulnerable ecosystem, the case of Juan Fernández Ridge ecosystem

“…JFRE has unique biological and oceanographic features, characterized by: i) small and discrete geographical units (islands and seamounts); ii) high degree of marine and terrestrial endemism [21–25]; and iii) presence of mesoscale and submesoscale oceanographic structures promoting a high degree of connectivity within and between other systems [26–28]. Because of their significance for biodiversity the islands were declared a National Park in 1935 and a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1977 (www.unesco.org).…”