2 THE MARINE ALGAE ОЕ PERU 
the ocean is cold and its vegetation is of a pronounced “temperate” 
character, the larger and more conspicuous algae belonging to 
such genera as Macrocystis, Lessonia, and Eisenia. The following 
summary of temperature conditions in the sea along the Peruvian 
coast, written by Dr. Coker,* is instructive: 
“Untropical as is the coast of Peru in its aspect as described 
above, it is equally so as regards the temperature of the ocean 
water. There is no more significant feature of the coast than the 
Humboldt or Peruvian current which flows northward and north- 
westward along the west coast of South America, bringing the cold 
antarctic waters down to the equatorial region. To find upon the 
coast of the United States a summer temperature of the ocean 
water corresponding to that of Callao at 12° S. one would go to 
about the latitude of New York on the Atlantic side (41° N.) or 
Monterey on the Pacific (36° N.). The Peruvian current, in 
conjunction with other factors, particularly the constancy of the 
winds on the coast, produces a relative uniformity of temperature 
conditions. There is little variation in the water temperature 
from hour to hour during Ше day, little difference from month to 
month during the year, and a relatively small change from latitude 
to latitude. It is probable that such variations as are found are 
due more to very local conditions, or to the swinging of the current, 
than to seasonal changes or differences of latitude. At Callao 
(12? S.) the water in early summer was at 15-19? С. (59-66? Е.) 
and in early winter from 16.5 to 19° С. (61—66° F.); at Рана 
(5? S.), in April, records from 15.5 to 20.5? C. were taken, with 
an average of 17.5? C. (63.5? Е.); while at Mollendo (17? 5.), 
more than a thousand miles to the south—or as far away from 
Paita as New York from Miami, Fla.—the midwinter temperature 
was I6? C. (61? F.). This current leads the fishermen to go 
southward from the port instead of northward, if a prompt return 
journey is desired, and its supposed swinging movements are of 
further significance, as it causes certain pelagic fishes to approach 
or recede from the coast. 
With such low water temperatures a tropical fauna is, of 
course, absent. Corals are wanting, sponges nearly so, and the 
general character of the fauna and flora of the region is such as 
would ordinarily be found in much higher latitudes." 
* Bull. Bur. Fisheries 28: 337. 1908. Моге detailed reports of more than 300 
observations of ocean temperatures along the Peruvian coast have been published 
y Dr. Coker in several papers in the Boletin del Ministerio de Fomento [Lima] 
during the years 1008-1010. 
