ESTUDIOS DE DISTRIBUCION VERTICAL DE LA BIOTA COSTERA EN EL SENO DE RELONCAVI - CHILE

Abstract

Taxonomic and ecological studies on the flora and fauna of the North and West coast of Seno de Reloncaví (41° 30’ S; 73° W) Chile, during May, 1971 have been carried out.

The results show the ocurrence of four patterns of zonation on the basis of:

— biotic and abiotic characteristics of the zones
— ocurrence of linking fringes between two adjacent zones
— ocurrence of bare band or transitional fringe between terrestrial and marine populations and
— instability of some ecological zones

Skin diving and dredging revealed a small number of species at submerged levels. The type of substrata and tidal currents (i. e., different salinity indices) could be adverse factors for a more diversified marine flora and fauna in this habitat.

Some algological associations, types of zonation patterns and abiotic characteristics have been compared with previous work carried out in the region of Valparaíso (32° 57’ S; 71° 33’ W).