Observations on the composition and diversity of fauna in the rocky sub-coastline of Punta Paloma, Arica

Abstract

?Observations on the composition and diversity of fauna in the rocky sub-coastline of Punta Paloma, Arica?

The benthonic fauna of the rocky sub-littoral of Pta. Paloma, Arica, Chile (18°33?S; 70°20?W) was analized. This fauna is composed principally of Mollusca (52,4%), Annelida (16,6%), Crustacea (14,3 %), Echinodermata (9,5%), Brachiopoda (2,4 %), Aetinaria (2,4%) and Protozoa (2,4%). The fauna is widely diversified and there may be observed species living on hard substrate, together with those inhabiting soft substrate. In general terms, the number of individuals in each species is low and the diversity indexes vary between 1,10 bits and 3,11 bits, with an average diversity of 1,82 bits.