Dispersión de larvas de crustáceos decápodos en canales y fiordos de la Región de Aysén, Chile

Abstract

Distribution and abundance of planktonic subadult forms of decapods crustaceans was studied in the channels and fjords of the Aysen region in austral Chile (43°-46°S) during November 2003. Larval dispersal of the most abundant species (Sergestes arcticus, Neotrypaea uncinata and Munida subrugosa) is discussed. Caridea, Thalassinidea and Brachyura were the most abundant infraorders. Thalassinidea was represented by a single species (Neotrypaea uncinata), the most abundant in this study and one of the three that due to its ample distribution allowed us to offer an explanation for its dispersion based on the larval stages composition of samples at each sampling station. Neotrypaea uncinata and Munida subrugosa larvae exhibited a more oceanic distribution than the larvae of Sergestes articus whose cosmopolitan adults display benthopelagic distribution that could explain its presence in the inner channels.