Tsunami effects on Coquimbo Bay wetland water-bird species composition, associated with the 2015 Mw8.4 Illapel earthquake (northern Chile)

• Chávez-Villavicencio, César ^[1] ; Tabilo-Valdivieso, Elier ; Jofré-Pérez, Christian
  1. [1] Universidad Católica del Norte

     Universidad Católica del Norte

     Antofagasta, Chile

     
• Localización: Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research, ISSN-e 0718-560X, ISSN 0716-1069, Vol. 47, Nº. 5, 2019, págs. 845-852
• Idioma: inglés
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Tsunami effects associated to the 2015 Mw8.3 Illapel earthquake (north Chile) on the species composition of wetland waterfowl of the Coquimbo Bay
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• Resumen
  • español

    On September 16th, 2015, an earthquake occurred in Chile, triggering a tsunami impacting in Coquimbo Bay where Punta Teatinos, Elqui River Mouth and El Culebron wetlands are located. We describe the geomorphological changes produced by the T16S on these wetlands and the diversity of the waterfowl assembly. Geomorphological changes are comparatively described using Google Earth Pro. Waterfowl assembly, before and after the T16S, were obtained from eBird. The analysis considered the accumulated species richness (S=43) and the similarity of the assembly (cluster analysis and Sorensen similarity index). The values of similarity in the composition of waterfowl before and after T16S were Punta Teatinos: 0.83; Elqui River Mouth: 0.86; and El Culebron: 0.91, this last wetland was the most impacted in its geomorphology and showed greater similarity before and after T16S. The three wetlands were highly resilient. The original geomorphology, plant structure and richness of waterfowl recovered within a year. It is considered that waterfowl and these wetlands endure high levels of intermediate disturbance.

  • English

    On September 16, 2015, an earthquake occurred in Chile, causing a tsunami (T16S) that impacted Coquimbo Bay, where the Punta Teatinos, Elqui River Mouth, and El Culebrón wetlands are located. Changes in the flat topography produced by the T16S in these wetlands are described using Google Earth Pro v. 7.3.2.5491 and in waterbird richness, with data obtained from eBird. The richness of the accumulated species (S = 43), the similarity of the richness (analysis of conglomerates and similarity index of Sorensen) and differences between means of waterbird richness before and after T16S were analyzed statistically. The similarity in the composition of water birds before and after T16S were, Punta Teatinos (0.83), Mouth of the Elqui River (0.86) and El Culebrón (0.91), the latter was the most affected in its flat topography but showed higher similarity before and after T16S. No statistical differences in the mean of waterbird richness were found before and after T16S. The three wetlands were highly resilient. The original flat topography, the vegetation structure and the water bird richness recovered in a year. It is considered that water birds and these wetlands are resilient to disturbances.