Observaciones sobre la macrofauna y flora asociadas a los grampones de Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C.Ag. en la ría Deseado (Santa Cruz, Argentina)

LÓPEZ GAPPA, J.

ECOSUR

FECIC

Lugar: Corrientes; Año: 1982 vol. 9 p. 67 - 106

0325-108X

The macro-fauna and flora associated with 36 Macrocystis holdfasts in the ría Deseado (47º45’S, 65º55’W) were studied. Among the 27 taxonomic groups found, the bryozoans, the polychaetes and rhodophyta clearly predominate. Sörensen’s cualitative index was used to calculate the affinity between samples. Most of the species of this community are common members of the benthic biota of the area; only the isopod Limnoria (Ph.) chilensis and the amphipods Bircenna fulva and Ampithoe femorata are strongly associated to Macrocystis by trophic relationships. The specific composition of the community is greatly influenced by the composition of the surrounding benthic fauna and flora. The distribution of the epibiosis on different algae and invertebrate genera of the holdfast community was studied, and ecological segregation, owing to the preference for different kinds of substrata was observed in spirorbid polychaetes and the bryozoan genus Celleporella. In order to characterize the holdfast community in this area, a list of the most frequent and abundant species is given. A marine ascomicete (Lulworthia sp.) parasiting Macrocystis is recorded for the first time.