Namuncura´ Marine Protected Area: an oceanic hot spot 3 of benthic biodiversity at Burdwood Bank, Argentina

SCHEJTER L.; RIMONDINO; CHIESA; ASTARLOA; DOTI; ELIAS; ESCOLAR M.; GENZANO; LOPEZ GAPPA; TATIAN; ZELAYA D.; CRISTOBO; C. PEREZ; CORDEIRO; BREMEC C.

JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

Lugar: Cambridge; Año: 2016

0025-3154

The first open-sea (non-coastal) Marine Protected Area in Argentina wascreated in 2013 (named ?Namuncurá?), at Burdwood Bank, an undersea plateaulocated about 200 km south from Malvinas Islands, SW Atlantic Ocean. Thiscontribution represents the most recent and complete check-list of benthicspecies (mainly mega and macrofauna) that summarized 238 taxa collected atthree regions of the Namuncurá- Burdwood Bank Marine Protected Area (NBB MPA).The benthic richness here documented largely exceeds the values coming fromother productive areas in Argentinean waters. Faunistic composition wasdifferent among the areas, although some species were shared. Bryozoanspresented the highest richness compared to the other groups, followed bymollusks and sponges. These data represent valuable information and a veryhelpful starting point for incoming research, conservation efforts and management.Considering the notable extension of the MPA, the bathymetric variations,particular oceanographic conditions and different fishing circumstances amongthe area, it is essential to establish the spatial distribution of indicatortaxa, like corals, sponges and bryozoans, to better attempt to the protectionof benthic biodiversity in this rich Argentinean marine system.