REPORT ON THE ALGAE OF THE CHILEAN SEAS 



By Hector Etcheverry-Daza 



Marine Biological Station 

 University of Chile, Montemar, Chile 



The purpose of this brief report is to present a picture of the 

 Chilean algae flora, quoting its characteristic species, particularly those 

 which can be used as raw material or food. 



An ecological rather than a systematic approach has been followed. 

 With regards to the commercially important algae the author has not 

 gone into details about the techniques applied for their utilization. 



The Chilean algae flora extends along the western coast of South 

 America, from Lat. 18°22'S. down to Cape Horn. Within the Chilean 

 realm numerous islands are included. Important among them, because 

 of their size, abundance of algae and available phycological literature 

 are Juan Fernandez, Desventuradas (San Felix and San Ambrosio) and 

 Easter Island. In addition the Chilean Antarctic Region, limited by 

 the meridians 53° W. and 90° W. and the South Pole, should be con- 

 sidered. The Chilean algae domain extends therefore from tropical la- 

 titudes down to the South polar region. 



From Arica to Chiloe the biological and physico-chemical condi- 

 tions (salinity, tides, temperature, light, physical nature of the sub- 

 stratum) are approximately uniform. From Chiloe to Cape Horn exist 

 numerous archipelagos, rocky coasts, waters with low salt content and 

 the greatest tide difference in Chile (up to 10 m.). 



The Antarctic Region with high cliff characteristics, bottom de- 

 posits, temperature, salinity, marine currents, tides, ice, penetrations of 

 light, etc. have a particular and specific influence on the phycological 

 flora, characterized by endemisms and the abundance of calcareous 

 algae. 



This paper should deal only with the first two referred regions, 

 in so much that the algae flora of the Antarctic has become well known 

 since Foster, in 1829, collected in Graham's Land the first algae of the 

 region. 



The Marine Biological Station of the University of Chile, located 

 at Montemar, have started a systematic and phytogeographic study of 

 the algae of the Chilean territorial waters. In the last few years, some 

 contributions on this subject, from the systematic and technical point 



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