J M Alonso Vega

Universidad Católica del Norte (Chile) · Department of Marine Biology

The use of seaweed as fuel has been mentioned in ethnographic and historical sources of different coastal regions. Nevertheless, the archaeological record of seaweed burning is still limited to contexts where preservation is exceptional and macroscopic discrimination of charred remains is possible. Here, we evaluate the effectiveness of Raman spect...

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has been associated with dramatic changes in adult populations of shallow benthic community-structuring species in northern Chile. However, early ontogenetic stages are more likely to be affected by physical processes associated with ENSO (e.g. increased temperature, upwelling), potentially reflected in diffe...

Several seaweed species are commercialized worldwide both due to high demand for food and feed and as a raw material for the extraction of phycocolloids such as agar, carrageenan, and alginates that are used broadly in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Chile is the world’s leading marine seaweed biomass producer when it comes to th...

Esta consultoría tuvo como objetivo Contribuir a la adecuación del Plan de Adaptación en pesca y acuicultura, mediante la conservación y uso sustentable de los ecosistemas de macroalgas pardas y el estudio de su aporte al Carbono Azul, como parte de las soluciones basadas en la naturaleza frente al Cambio Climático. Las estimaciones de los efectiv...

Achieving sustainable use of kelps is key for small-scale fishers’ livelihoods and biodiversity. During the last three decades, Chile has implemented different policy approaches to manage kelps. Unfortunately, assessments of the biological impacts of these management regimes have not received the attention they deserve. In this study, we explore bi...

Flavobacteriosis, caused by Flavobacterium psychrophilum is considered the most important bacterial disease in Chilean freshwater salmonid farming, and is currently mainly controlled by the use of antimicrobial agents. The aim of this study was to correlate the results obtained by disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays of...

This study compares density and size structure of kelp Lessonia berteroana and sea urchins Loxechinus albus inside and outside a port concession area in Caldera. Greater abundance and larger adult individuals in populations of both benthic resources in this zone preliminarily indicates that this might be replicating a marine protected area. In the...

A partir de octubre del año 2014, a propósito de la elaboración del Plan Nacional de Conservación del Pingüino de Humboldt por parte de CONAF, es que se desarrolló un trabajo asociativo, cuyo objetivo es diseñar un plan de monitoreo, para objetos de conservación ecológicos y socio económicamente rele-vantes. El estudio incluyó la participación de i...

Lessonia berteroana (ex L. nigrescens) is kelp freely harvested from Open Access Areas (OAA), and to some extent controlled, from Management and Exploitation Areas for Benthic Resources (MEABR). Harvesting pressures can change population dynamics, mainly in OAAs. In particular, harvesting may alter the chemical components of plants. Therefore, the...

Lessonia berteroana (ex L. nigrescens) is kelp freely harvested from Open Access Areas (OAA), and to some extent controlled, from Management and Exploitation Areas for Benthic Resources (MEABR). Harvesting pressures can change population dynamics, mainly in OAAs. In particular, harvesting may alter the chemical components of plants. Therefore, the...

This study describes and classifies a case of multiple malformations in an unborn blue shark Prionace glauca fetus, which was extracted from a gravid female captured during a research campaign addressed to the biological study of sharks in northern and central Chile. The analyzed specimen shows tetrophthalmia with unilateral synophthalmia, anomaly...

Flavobacterium psychrophilum is the most important bacterial pathogen for freshwater farmed salmonids in Chile. The aims of this study were to determine the susceptibility to antimicrobials used in fish farming of Chilean isolates and to calculate their epidemiological cut-off (COWT) values. A number of 125 Chilean isolates of F. psychrophilum were...

INTRODUCCIÓN: Estando conscientes de que el control de la biomasa de peces es un tema de relevancia para una alta productividad en la acuicultura (mejores crecimientos, reducción del factor de conversión del alimento), durante el año 2014 y 2015, se realizó un estudio a escala productiva donde se experimentó el uso de bioestimadores con la tecnolog...

Scurria scurra is a patelogastropod inhabiting the stipes and holdfasts cavities of Lessonia nigrescens complex species forming a herbivore-kelp association highly specialized. It has been proposed that the exploitation of kelp beds of Lessonia berteroana in northern Chile is a disturbance that affects Scurria-Lessonia association such as ENSO (El...

Lessonia nigrescens complex holdfasts habitats are home to a wide diversity of invertebrates. The holdfasts associated fauna is sensitive to the kelp fishery in northern Chile because one of the management recommendation is to harvest the whole plant. Considering the above, and the ecological role play by brown algae as foundation species, this stu...

In the last decade, exploitation of Lessonia nigrescens in northern Chile has been carried out using the best practices agreed upon by consensus between fishermen, industry, government, and scientists. These practices focus on the selective harvest of sporophytes to allow the maintenance of a reproductive stock, facilitating recruitment and minimiz...

Kelp beds, besides being one of the most important benthic resources in northern Chile, provide a variety of environmental goods and services. In order to evaluate economically the wild kelp populations in northern Chile (26° to 32° S) more than simply their commercial value as a source of raw materials for alginate extraction, we used several econ...

Biodiversity loss caused by population growth, the demand of resources and productive activities is inconsistent with the recognition of its importance. In terrestrial ecosystems, the National State System of Protected Areas (SNASPE) contains about 19 % of continental Chile. Although it does not represent all the ecosystems with endangered species,...

Biodiversity loss caused by population growth, the demand of resources and productive activities is inconsistent with the recognition of its importance. In terrestrial ecosystems, the National State System of Protected Areas (SNASPE) contains about 19 % of continental Chile. Although it does not represent all the ecosystems with endangered species,...

The influence of water temperature (17 and 20°C), frequency (4 and 6) and feed ration level (2.5% and 3.5%) on the growth and survival of juvenile turbot (Psetta maxima) in a commercial productive system was investigated over 35 days. The results indicate that fish from the experimental protocol exhibited better growth and significant difference in...

In Chile, management of natural resources usually starts right before its imminent collapse or after evident declination. In the northern area of the country, the fishery of brown seaweeds has an enormous social, ecological, and economical importance. More than 11,000 people depend directly or indirectly on the collection and harvesting of this res...

The influence of water temperature (17 and 20 degrees C), frequency (4 and 6) and feed ration level (2.5% and 3.5%) on the growth and survival of juvenile turbot (Psetta maxima) in a commercial productive system was investigated over 35 days. The results indicate that fish from the experimental protocol exhibited better growth and significant diffe...

A conjoined twins specimen of blue shark Prionace glauca was collected during fishing activities in Northern Chile. According to a classification based on duplication degree and fusion site of the twins, it represents a monster of diprosopus tetrophthalmus type. The specimen has a partial craniofacial duplication with presence of four eyeballs and...

A conjoined twins specimen of blue shark Prionace glauca was collected during fishing activities in Northern Chile. According to a classification based on duplication degree and fusion site of the twins, it represents a monster of diprosopus tetrophthalmus type. The specimen has a partial craniofacial duplication with presence of four eyeballs and...

Natural resource management requires extensive knowledge of the biology of the organisms and their responses to ecological and anthropogenic processes. While species are commonly used as management units, the presence of cryptic species morphologically indistinguishable, but with different biological characteristics may hinder the design of appropr...

This study establishes the dietary protein level for maximum growth in Paralichthys adspersus juveniles. According with this purpose, three diets based on fish meal were formulated with increasing protein levels (48, 57 and 60%), which were compared with a commercial diet (54% protein; BIOMAR S. A.). Furthermore, the optimal protein level were dete...

This study establishes the dietary protein level for maximum growth in Paralichthys adspersus juveniles. According with this purpose, three diets based on fish meal were formulated with increasing protein levels (48, 57 and 60%), which were compared with a commercial diet (54% protein; BIOMAR S.A.). Furthermore, the optimal protein level were deter...

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has been associated with dramatic changes in adult populations of shallow benthic community-structuring species in northern Chile. However, early ontogenetic stages are more likely to be affected by physical processes associated with ENSO (e.g. increased temperature, upwelling), potentially reflected in diffe...

Kelp beds, besides being one of the most important benthic resources in northern Chile, provide a variety of environmental goods and services. In order to evaluate economically the wild kelp populations in northern Chile (26° to 32° S) more than simply their commercial value as a source of raw materials for alginate extraction, we used several econ...

For successful rearing of the flounder Paralichthys adspersus, it is important to optimize growth and survival in the early larval stages. Several authors indicate that the application of β-glucans and mannan- oligosaccharides (βG MOS) in rearing water should improve the larval health, diminishing the effects of physiological stress and physical da...

For successful rearing of the flounder Paralichthys adspersus, it is important to optimize growth and sur- vival in the early larval stages. Several authors indicate that the application of β-glucans and mannan-oligosaccharides (βG MOS) in rearing water should improve the larval health, diminishing the effects of physiological stress and physical d...

The Humboldt Current System (HCS) is one of the most productive marine ecosystems on earth. It extends along the west coast of South America from southern Chile (~42 ° S) up to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands near the equator. The general oceanography of the HCS is characterised by a predominant northward flow of surface waters of subantarctic or...

This is the first study on the south eastern Pacific coast of South America which details long term, interannual variability in the structure of subtidal rocky-bottom kelp-dominated communities before, during, and after the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event of 1997–1998 in northern Chile (23°S). The temporal patterns of the main components...

The Humboldt Current System (HCS) is one of the most productive marine ecosystems on earth. It extends along the west coast of South America from southern Chile (~42 ° S) up to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands near the equator. The general oceanography of the HCS is characterised by a predominant northward flow of surface waters of subantarctic or...

Some species of macroalgae continue to live for extended periods of time after detachment and may even maintain reproductive structures, yet very little is known about this process. Here, we describe the presence of sporophylls (with sporogenous tissues) on floating kelp rafts of Macrocystis spp. along the coast of Chile. Surveys were conducted at...

Breeding animals is a phenomenon associated to the origins of the modern man. Nevertheless, breeding marine species is related to the productive scope through intensive cultures in captivity to mainly commercial aims. This study aims to determine the feasibility of culture of the red spotted catshark, Schroederichthys chilensis, through preliminary...

This paper describes the population biology of Lessonia trabeculata and Macrocystis integrifolia during and after the 1997-1998 El Niño in an area of permanent coastal upwelling in northern Chile. Spatial and temporal patterns of distribution were evaluated seasonally for adult and juvenile sporophytes of both species between 1996 and 2003. These t...

This paper describes the population biology of Lessonia trabeculata and Macrocystis integrifolia during and after the 1997-1998 El Niño in an area of permanent coastal upwelling in northern Chile. Spatial and temporal patterns of distribution were evaluated seasonally for adult and juvenile sporophytes of both species between 1996 and 2003. These t...

This study describes the density variation and phenology of Macrocystis integrifolia and M. pyrifera populations from northern and southern Chile, respectively. Samples of both species were taken in wave-exposed and wave-protected areas. In addition, spore production, germination and early growth rate of sporophytes of each population was studied a...

Esta revisión caracteriza la estructura y la organización de las comunidades de los ecosistemas costeros marinos del litoral del Parque Nacional Bosque Fray Jorge. En la franja intermareal, se incluyen playas de arena y ambientes de estuario (desembocadura del Río Limarí), y ambientes rocosos expuestos y protejidos al oleaje. Las comunidades submar...

Resumen: Este trabajo analiza los efectos de El Niño 1997-1998 en las comunidades submarea-les costeras en una localidad del norte de Chile, enfatizando los cambios registrados sobre los patrones de abundancia y distribución temporal de comunidades submareales de fondos duros dominados por Lessonia trabeculata y Macrocystis integrifolia. En particu...

Chondrus canaliculatus (C. Agardh) Greville used to cover extensive areas at Puerto Aldea 30°16′ S, 71°30′ W), Tongoy Bay, Chile. The exploitation of this commercially-valuable alga without knowledge of its production behavior and reproductive characteristics led to its severe reduction in the area. Seasonal monitoring of biomass, reproductive capa...

Abiotic and biotic factors affecting seasonal variations in the biomass andreproductive condition of Chondracanthus chamissoi were evaluatedin a population at La Herradura Bay, northern Chile. During spring,increase in temperature, light, and photoperiod favored the reproductiveactivity of C. chamissoi, contributing to its growth and production ofr...

In Chile, there are no references on the effects of mining discharges on populations and communities of the shallow subtidal habitats. During 1996-1997, covering more than 1500 km of coast (in polluted and control areas), a study was carried out to account for the chemical characterization of copper and iron discharges, the distribution of heavy me...

In 1996/97, a study was carried out to evaluate several variables related to the potential ecological effects of soluble copper and iron released as the result of direct dumping of mine tailing into the littoral zone of the Pacific Ocean off northern Chile. Variables studied included: 1. content of copper and iron in mining discharges; 2. distribut...

In 1996/97, a study was carried out to evaluate several variables related to the potential ecological effects of soluble copper and iron released as the result of direct dumping of mine tailing into the littoral zone of the Pacific Ocean off northern Chile. Variables studied included: 1. content of copper and iron in mining discharges; 2. distribut...

Monthly and bathymetric variation of biomass, reproductive phases and chemical characterization of soluble polysaccharides in a shallow subtidal Rhodymenia howeana population at La Herradura of Guayacan Bay, Coquimbo (Chile), has been monitored between July 1994 and August 1995. Overall productivity of the population did not change during the study...