Rev. biol. mar. oceanogr. 49(1): 129-134

Research Note

Changes in invertebrate assemblages inhabiting Lessonia spicata (Phaeophyceae) holdfasts after the 2010 earthquake-mediated coastal uplift in Chile

Karla J. Ortega¹, Claudio A. Sáez^2,4 and Erasmo C. Macaya^1,3

¹Laboratorio de Estudios Algales ALGALAB, Departamento de Oceanografía, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Concepción, Chile

²Plymouth University, School of Marine Science & Engineering, Faculty of Science & Environment, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom

³Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research (INCAR), Universidad de Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile

⁴Present address: Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Casilla 40 Correo 33, Santiago, Chile

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On February 27th 2010, a mega-earthquake struck Chile causing coastal coseismic uplift. In this study we compared the invertebrate fauna from uplifted (UH) and non-uplifted (NH) Lessonia spicata kelp holdfasts. Multivariate analysis of the assemblage structure revealed different faunal composition between holdfasts, the anemone Phymactis clematis and the mussel Perumytilus purpuratus displayed the highest contribution to these differences, being most abundant in UH. A preference to inhabit in UH is most likely to be related to food availability and capacity to thrive with high salinity and desiccation, while NH became habitat for a rare primary ecological succession. The present study helps to understand ecological implications of such rare events.

Key words:  Coastal coseismic uplift, kelps, associated fauna, assemblages analysis