DOI: 10.5061/dryad.f7m0cfxvj
title: Marine communities of the newly created Kawésqar National Reserve, Chile: from glaciers to the Pacific Ocean

description: The newly created Kawésqar National Park (KNP) and National Reserve (KNR)
 in southern Chile consists of diverse terrestrial and marine habitats,
 which includes the southern terminus of the Andes, the Southern Patagonia
 Ice Fields, sub-Antarctic rainforests, glaciers, fjords, lakes, wetlands,
 valleys, channels, and islands. The marine environment is influenced by
 wide ranging hydrological factors such as glacier melt, large terrigenous
 inputs, high precipitation, strong currents, and open ocean water masses.
 Owing to the remoteness, rugged terrain, and harsh environmental
 conditions, little is known about this vast region, particularly the
 marine realm. To this end, we conducted an integrated ecological
 assessment using SCUBA and remote cameras down to 600 m to examine this
 unique and largely unexplored ecosystem. Kelp forests (primarily
 Macrocystis pyrifera) dominate the nearshore ecosystem and provide habitat
 for myriad benthic organisms. In the fjords, salinity was low and both
 turbidity and nutrients from terrigenous sources were high, with benthic
 communities dominated by active suspension feeders (e.g., Bivalvia,
 Ascidiacea, and Bryozoans). Areas closer to the Pacific Ocean showed more
 oceanic conditions with higher salinity and lower turbidity, with benthic
 communities experiencing more open benthic physical space in which
 predators (e.g., Malacostraca and Asteroidea) and herbivorous browsers
 (e.g., Echinoidea and Gastropoda) were more conspicuous components of the
 community compared to the inner fjords. Hagfish (Myxine sp.) was the most
 abundant and frequently occurring fish taxa observed on deep-sea cameras
 (80% of deployments), along with several taxa of sharks (e.g.,
 Squaliformes, Etmopteridae, Somniosidae, Scyliorhinidae), which
 collectively were also observed on 80% of deep-sea camera deployments. The
 kelp forests, deep fjords, and other nearshore habitats of the KNR
 represent a unique ecosystem with minimal human impacts at present. The
 KNR is part of the ancestral territory of the indigenous Kawésqar people
 and their traditional knowledge of this region is strongly supported by
 our scientific findings.
description: <b>In-situ</b><b> surveys: invertebrates and
 fishes</b> Two transects of 25-m length, carried
 out on SCUBA, were conducted parallel to shore, towards the lower edge of
 the kelp zone. For sessile and mobile invertebrates, the number of
 individuals was estimated within 1-m of either side of the transect line
 (50 m<sup>2</sup>). For colonial organisms (sponges, some
 cnidarians, bryozoans, and some tunicates) colonies, rather than
 individuals, were counted. Only non-cryptic invertebrates &gt; 1 cm
 were enumerated. A second diver counted the number of kelp stipes
 (<i>M. pyrifera</i> and <i>Lessonia</i> spp.)
 within 1-m on either side of these transects. <i>M.
 pyrifera</i> holdfast diameters were measured by a third diver as an
 indication of plant size and age [2]. This diver also measured test
 diameter of the sea urchin <i>Loxechinus albus</i> in the
 general vicinity of the transect. For fish surveys, a scuba diver
 counted and sized all fishes within 1-m of either side of the 25-m
 transect lines (50 m<sup>2</sup>) at each survey site (N = 2
 transects). The transect column extended from the benthos to the surface,
 or as far as visibility allowed, to include species associated with the
 kelp canopy and water column. Total fish lengths were estimated to the
 nearest cm. In addition, photographs were taken in situ to assist with
 species identification, and document underwater coloration and associated
 habitat. Fish species biogeographic affinities and trophic group
 designations were obtained from published literature [26–28].
 In addition to these
 quantitative surveys, we surveyed the deeper fjord slopes down to 40 m
 where we qualitatively described these communities and recorded the
 presence of taxa visually and with photography. Prior to each survey,
 temperature and salinity measurements were taken at a depth of 5 m below
 the surface using a YSI model 556 handheld multiparameter
 instrument. <b>Deep-sea camera
 surveys</b> National Geographic’s deep-sea
 cameras were used to quantify marine life in the deeper areas of the KNR.
 These systems consist of high definition cameras (Sony Handycam FDR-AX33
 4K Ultra-High Definition video with a 20.6 megapixel still image
 capability) in a 33-cm diameter borosilicate glass sphere that is rated to
 ~7,000 m depth [29]. Viewing area per frame for the cameras is ca. 17
 m<sup>2</sup>, depending on the steepness of the slope where
 the camera lands. Cameras were baited with ~ 1 kg of frozen sardines and
 deployed for ~ three hrs. Lighting at depth was achieved with a
 high-intensity LED array. Depth gauging was accomplished using an internal
 logging pressure sensor, or navigation charts in cases of sensor fail. The
 cameras were weighted with a 12-kg locally procured biodegradable sandbag
 weight and descended at a rate of ~1 m s<sup>-1</sup>. At the
 programmed time, sandbag weights were automatically released, allowing the
 cameras to return to the surface. Video footage was annotated for
 taxa present (identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level), as well
 as for maximum number of individuals of a given taxon per video frame
 (MaxN), which provides a metric of relative abundance. Frequency of
 occurrence (Freq. occ. %) for each taxon observed was calculated as the
 percentage of incidence across all deployments. The substrata for each
 camera deployment were classified into standard geological categories
 consisting of mud, pebble, cobble, and boulder. Seafloor type was defined
 by the approximate percent cover of the two most prevalent substrata in
 each habitat patch. The first type was the substratum accounting for ≥ 50%
 of the patch, and the second most prevalent substratum accounting for an
 additional ≥ 30% of the patch.