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Marine Ecology Progress Series

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MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.

Online: ISSN 1616-1599

Print: ISSN 0171-8630

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps

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Volume contents
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 402:13-30 (2010)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08360

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Primary production and plankton dynamics in the Reloncaví Fjord and the Interior Sea of Chiloé, Northern Patagonia, Chile

ABSTRACT: nbsp; Seasonal variability in freshwater discharge and solar radiation directly affects the structure and functioning of the pelagic community in Chile’s northern Patagonian fjords. The input of fresh water loaded with silicate from the top and marine water enriched with nitrate and orthophosphate from the bottom results in overlapping limnetic and marine characteristics. Two research cruises (CIMAR 12) were conducted in the area of Reloncaví Fjord and the Interior Sea of Chiloé (42 to 44°S) during austral winter and spring 2006, in order to assess the spatial/temporal variability in biological, physical, and chemical oceanographic characteristics, and to quantify the carbon budget of the pelagic trophic webs in Reloncaví Fjord. Vertical flux of particulate organic carbon (POC) and primary production (PP) increased 2-fold (334 vs. 725 mgC m–2 d–1) and 2 orders of magnitude (42 vs. 1893 mgC m–2 d–1), respectively, from winter to spring. In addition, the bacterial secondary production to primary production (BSP:PP) ratio decreased from 3.7 to 0.2 in Reloncaví Fjord, suggesting a transition from microbial to classical pelagic food webs. The higher solar radiation and extended photoperiod of springtime promoted the growth of diatoms in a nutrient-replete water column. Allochthonous (river discharge) and autochthonous (phytoplankton exudates) organic matter maintained high year-round bacteria biomass and secondary production. In spring, grazing pressure from zooplankton on the microplankton (largely diatoms) resulted in the relative dominance of the classical food web, with increased export production of zooplankton faecal pellets and ungrazed diatoms. Conversely, in winter, zooplankton grazing, mainly on nanoplankton, resulted in a relative dominance of the microbial loop with lower export production than found in spring. Carbon fluxes and fjord-system functioning are highly variable on a seasonal basis, and both the multivorous trophic webs and the carbon export were more uncoupled from local PP than coastal areas.

KEYWORDS

Interior Sea of Chiloé Patagonia marine ecosystem Carbon budget

H. E. González (Co-author)

  • Instituto de Biología Marina, Universidad Austral de Chile, PO Box 567, Valdivia, Chile
  • Centro COPAS de Oceanografía y COPAS Sur-Austral (PFB), Universidad de Concepción, PO Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile
  • Centro de Investigación de Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP), Bilbao 449, Coyhaique, Chile

M. J. Calderón (Co-author)

  • Instituto de Biología Marina, Universidad Austral de Chile, PO Box 567, Valdivia, Chile

L. Castro (Co-author)

  • Centro COPAS de Oceanografía y COPAS Sur-Austral (PFB), Universidad de Concepción, PO Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile
  • Departamento de Oceanografía, Universidad de Concepción, PO Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile

A. Clement (Co-author)

  • Plancton Andino, PO Box 823, Puerto Montt, Chile

L. A. Cuevas (Co-author)

  • Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Jahnebakken 5, 5020 Bergen, Norway

G. Daneri (Co-author)

  • Centro COPAS de Oceanografía y COPAS Sur-Austral (PFB), Universidad de Concepción, PO Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile
  • Centro de Investigación de Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP), Bilbao 449, Coyhaique, Chile

J. L. Iriarte (Co-author)

  • Centro de Investigación de Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP), Bilbao 449, Coyhaique, Chile
  • Instituto de Acuicultura, Universidad Austral de Chile, PO Box 1327, Puerto Montt, Chile

L. Lizárraga (Co-author)

  • Centro COPAS de Oceanografía y COPAS Sur-Austral (PFB), Universidad de Concepción, PO Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile
  • Centro de Investigación de Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP), Bilbao 449, Coyhaique, Chile

R. Martínez (Co-author)

  • Unidad de Sistemas Acuáticos, Centro de Ciencias Ambientales EULA, PO Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile

E. Menschel (Co-author)

  • Instituto de Biología Marina, Universidad Austral de Chile, PO Box 567, Valdivia, Chile
  • Centro COPAS de Oceanografía y COPAS Sur-Austral (PFB), Universidad de Concepción, PO Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile

N. Silva (Co-author)

  • Escuela de Ciencias del Mar, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, PO Box 1020, Valparaíso, Chile

C. Carrasco (Co-author)

  • Escuela de Ciencias del Mar, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, PO Box 1020, Valparaíso, Chile

C. Valenzuela (Co-author)

  • Instituto de Acuicultura, Universidad Austral de Chile, PO Box 1327, Puerto Montt, Chile

C. A. Vargas (Co-author)

  • Centro de Investigación de Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP), Bilbao 449, Coyhaique, Chile
  • Unidad de Sistemas Acuáticos, Centro de Ciencias Ambientales EULA, PO Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile

C. Molinet (Co-author)

  • Instituto de Acuicultura, Universidad Austral de Chile, PO Box 1327, Puerto Montt, Chile

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