Overview and challenges of Marine Biodiversity Research in Peru

Abstract

This paper is a panoramic, though incomplete, review of the Peruvian marine biodiversity, including the Peruvian coastal upwelling ecosystem, the marine shallow areas of the Peruvian coast and the mangrove ecosystem of the north of Peru. It includes an analysis of the advances in conservation and management, as well as of research resources. The analysis mainly showed the insufficient human resources and the limited facilities in laboratories and coastal research stations. An analysis was also made from the current unknowns of the research at taxonomy and ecosystem levels, indicating scarce studies for most of the taxonomic groups and biological communities. Finally, the consultations and discussions promoted with the scientific community, allowed the identification of the following issues as the main challenges for future research: formation and training of human resources, development of inventories, studies on endemism and speciation areas, application of new technologies for monitoring physical and biological parameters of the ecosystem, and assessment of the impacts of climate change on marine biodiversity. KEYWORDS: coastal upwelling ecosystem, marine shallow areas, hipoxia, anoxia, Thioploca, mangrove ecosystem of the north, conservation and management. RESUMEN El presente trabajo es una revisión panorámica, aunque incompleta, de la biodiversidad biológica marina del Perú, que incluye el ecosistema de surgencias costeras peruano, las áreas marinas someras de la costa peruana y el ecosistema de manglar del norte del Perú. Incluye un análisis de los avances en conservación y manejo, y de los recursos con que se dispone para la investigación. El análisis mostró principalmente la escasez de recursos humanos y las limitadas facilidades de laboratorios y de estaciones costeras de investigación de que disponen las instituciones. También se hizo un análisis de los vacíos de información a nivel taxonómico y de estudios ecosistémicos, que reflejó una escasez de estudios en la mayoría de grupos taxonómicos y comunidades biológicas. Finalmente, las consultas y discusiones promovidas en el seno de la comunidad científica, permitieron identificar como principales retos para las investigaciones futuras a: la formación y capacitación de recursos humanos, el desarrollo de inventarios taxonómicos, el estudio de endemismos y áreas de especiación, la aplicación de nuevas tecnologías en el monitoreo biótico y abiótico del ecosistema y la evaluación de los impactos del cambio global sobre la biodiversidad marina.

Macroalgal fouling on the intertidal mole crab Emerita analoga facilitates bird predation

“…can germinate within few hours once spores have attached on a suitable surface (Callow et al 1997;Callow and Callow 2002), and adults can grow up to 21% per day when environmental conditions are optimal (Taylor et al 2001). Water temperature, high nutrient input due to upwelling, and low oxygen concentration due to stagnation (Tarazona et al 2003) might facilitate macroalgal growth at our study site during warmer months, when fouled animals are present in the beach (Firstater et al 2009). …”

“…Tides have a mixed semidiurnal regime and average amplitude of 0.54 m (Dirección de Hidrografía y Navegación 2006). The area is characterized by high nutrient input due to upwelling and probably due to organic loads of anthropogenic origin, and with low oxygen concentration due to stagnation (Tarazona et al 2003;Firstater et al 2009). …”

“…The association between green macroalgae and E. analoga has a seasonal pattern, being fouled animals present only during summer and absent during winter, possibly because macroalgae growth is enhanced in warmer water conditions (Firstater et al 2009). Furthermore, the association was found in one of the most productive marine systems (Tarazona et al 2003), and it is likely that nutrients play an important role on its development (Valiela et al 1997;Firstater et al 2009). Epibionts attach to the anterior part of the carapace and first appendages, forming a dense, flossshape mat, usually one to twofolds the surface of the animal (Firstater et al 2009;Fig.…”

Charting the course for a blue economy in Peru: a research agenda

“…In view of the high biodiversity and productivity of Peru's marine environment (Bakun and Weeks 2008;Tarazona et al 2003), this sector has the potential to underpin the growth of a successful and diverse blue economy. Maritime industries are an important contributor to the Peruvian economy, with key industries (fishing, oil and gas, tourism and guano) generating thousands of jobs.…”

“…Compared to terrestrial ecosystems, scientific research and conservation of the marine ecosystems in Peru has been limited (Tarazona et al 2003). The slow establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is a pressing concern (Hooker 2011), particularly if Peru is to meet SDG Goal 14.…”