Raul Soto |
Affiliated scientist | WP1
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Institute: | Universidad Arturo Prat |
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| Email: |
rsoto@unap.cl |
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Address: |
Av. Arturo Prat 2120
Iquique, Chile
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Telephone:
Fax: | 56 057 394587
56 057 380393 |
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Responsibilities  | Supervision of Ph.D. students |
Research Interest | Invertebrate communities kelp
| | Trophodynamic of Key species of hard bottom |
Abstract | Kelp is known as a bioengineering species since it provides a three dimensional habitat for a diverse fauna especially associated to the holdfasts. The species of kelp in northern Chile are very sensitive to oceanographic changes such as temperature increase associated with El Niņo events. During the El Niņo 83-84 event kelp was removed from large areas of the northern Chilean littoral. This condition lasted long; just recently the Lessonia belt returned to the level registered before the event. The effects that the oceanographic conditions have on the associated invertebrate community remain unknown. To describe these effects and to discriminate changes related to El Niņo or La Niņa events from others a monitoring programme is required.
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| | We will analyze two localities near Chipana beach and Arica. We will use two subtidal transects sampling three depths by using a quadrat (50X50 cm) and underwater photography. Additionally we will sample holdfasts of Lessonia trabeculata and Macocystes integrifolia to analyze the associated fauna in the laboratory. |
Keywords
| Lessonia trabeculata, Macocystes integrifolia, bioengineering, holdfast |
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