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Distribution and abundance of Rhynchocinetes typus (Crustacea: Decapoda), in different benthic community structures in northern Chile

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2003

Luis M. Caillaux
Affiliation:
Universidad Católica del Norte, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Casilla 117, Coquimbo, Chile
Wolfgang B. Stotz
Affiliation:
Universidad Católica del Norte, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Casilla 117, Coquimbo, Chile
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Abstract

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An evaluation was carried out on the distribution and abundance of the rock shrimp Rhynchocinetes typus in the inshore subtidal zone on the north-central coast of Chile. A number of different benthic community types occur in the region which have different degrees of spatial complexity provided by the primary substratum and by the biotic communities colonizing the substratum. Shrimp abundance was estimated in five different community types including shallow and deep ‘barren grounds’, low encrusting communities, erect suspension feeding associations, and kelp beds of Lessonia trabeculata. The abundance of shrimp was determined on three different types of primary substratum (stones, boulders, rock mass) within each community. Rhynchocinetes typus occurred in all the communities studied, showing the highest abundance on the deep barren grounds and lowest abundance on the shallow barren grounds. The shrimp was found to prefer the stony areas, as these offered the greatest degree of refuge. The abundance of predators was not significantly different among the different communities. However, a decline of abundance of predators was apparent over the deep barren grounds.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2003 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom