Phytoplankton distribution and oyster,Ostrea chilensis(Philippi 1845), growth at Putemún Channel, southern Chile

Abstract

The phytoplankton community of the Putemun Channel (southern Chile) and its correlation with some environmental variables is analysed in this paper. Samples were collected on a monthly basis from May 1991 to May 1993. A total of 121 phytoplanktonic species were identified. The phytoplankton cell abundance ranged between 3.5 × 10 4 cells/litre and 11.2 × 10 6 cells/litre. The phytoplankton community was characterised by the dominance of diatoms. An inverse relationship between temperature and species diversity was observed. A significant correlation, after excluding tychoplanktonic benthic forms, was found between chlorophyll a, cell abundances, and temperature. The influence of biotic and abiotic variables on oyster (Ostrea chilensis (Philippi 1845)) growth was analysed. The instantaneous growth rate was found to be positively correlated with both temperature and phytoplankton abundance, whereas significant negative correlation between growth and amount of particulate inorganic matter was found.

Potential source regions of biogenic aerosol number concentration apportioning at King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula

“…Sm., Melosira sp. and several species of the genus Coconeis and Clavicula (Toro et al 1999). In the southern Argentinean shelf sector phytoplankton species vary both geographically and in time within the summer season (Gayoso 2001), with the occurrence of Skeletonem costatum several Chaetoceros species, Phaeocystis spp.…”

“…There are several regions in the Southern Ocean where remote sensing techniques and/or field measurements have estimated significant chl a concentrations (. 2 mg m -3 ): 1) the north-western Weddell Sea and Bellingshausen-Amundsen Sea (Moore & Abbott 2000), 2) the Scotia Sea (Holm-Hansen et al 2004), 3) the Ross Sea (Pabi & Arrigo 2006), 4) the southern Chilean coast (Toro et al 1999), and 5) the Argentinean continental shelf (Gayoso 2001, Saraceno et al 2005, Romero et al 2006, Rivas 2006, Signorini et al 2006. In the last two decades, the marginal sea ice zone has also been recognized as a major area of intense primary production in the Southern Ocean (Lizotte 2001).…”

“…2004), 3) the Ross Sea (Pabi & Arrigo 2006), 4) the southern Chilean coast (Toro et al . 1999), and 5) the Argentinean continental shelf (Gayoso 2001, Saraceno et al . 2005, Romero et al .…”