10.5061/DRYAD.GR2C7
Friedlander, Alan M.
National Geographic Society
University of Hawaii System
Ballesteros, Enric
Spanish National Research Council
Caselle, Jennifer E.
University of California, Santa Barbara
Gaymer, Carlos F.
Catholic University of the North
Palma, Alvaro T.
FisioAqua, Santiago, Chile
Petit, Ignacio
Catholic University of the North
Varas, Eduardo
FisioAqua, Santiago, Chile
Muñoz Wilson, Alex
OCEANA, SA, Santiago, Chile
Sala, Enric
National Geographic Society
Data from: Marine biodiversity in Juan Fernández and Desventuradas
Islands, Chile: global endemism hotspots
Dryad
dataset
2016
Overfishing
oceanic islands
Marine conservation
endemism
Marine invertebrates
Marine protected areas
Marine ecology
2016-12-04T00:00:00Z
2016-12-04T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0145059
1222265 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
The Juan Fernández and Desventuradas islands are among the few oceanic
islands belonging to Chile. They possess a unique mix of tropical,
subtropical, and temperate marine species, and although close to
continental South America, elements of the biota have greater affinities
with the central and south Pacific owing to the Humboldt Current, which
creates a strong biogeographic barrier between these islands and the
continent. The Juan Fernández Archipelago has ~ 700 people, with the major
industry being the fishery for the endemic lobster, Jasus frontalis. The
Desventuradas Islands are uninhabited except for a small Chilean military
garrison on San Félix Island. We compared the marine biodiversity of these
islands across multiple taxonomic groups. At San Ambrosio Island (SA), in
Desventuradas, the laminarian kelp (Eisenia cokeri), which is limited to
Desventuradas in Chile, accounted for >50% of the benthic cover at
wave exposed areas, while more sheltered sites were dominated by sea
urchin barrens. The benthos at Robinson Crusoe Island (RC), in the Juan
Fernández Archipelago, comprised a diverse mix of macroalgae and
invertebrates, a number of which are endemic to the region. The biomass of
commercially targeted fishes was > 2 times higher in remote sites
around RC compared to sheltered locations closest to port, and overall
biomass was 35% higher around SA compared to RC, likely reflecting fishing
effects around RC. The number of endemic fish species was extremely high
at both islands, with 87.5% of the species surveyed at RC and 72% at SA
consisting of regional endemics. Remarkably, endemics accounted for 99% of
the numerical abundance of fishes surveyed at RC and 96% at SA, which is
the highest assemblage-level endemism known for any individual marine
ecosystem on earth. Our results highlight the uniqueness and global
significance of these biodiversity hotspots exposed to very different
fishing pressures.
Desventuradas_Juan_Fernandes_FishUnderwater counts of fishes on
transectsDesventuradas_Juan_Fernandes_mobile_invertsUnderwater counts of
mobile invertebratesDesventuradas_Juan_Fernandes_Sessile_BenthosUnderwater
counts of sessile benthos
Desventuradas Islands
Juan Fernandez Islands
Chile