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<p>The expansion of salmon aquaculture in southern Chile has raised concerns about its potential influence on benthic ecosystems in fjord environments. This study examined spatial and temporal patterns of sediment quality and macrofaunal diversity across four ecological zones of the Inner Sea of Chiloé, using data from 281 monitoring stations collected between 2012 and 2016. Analyses combined ecological indices with multivariate and spatial statistical approaches, including redundancy analysis (RDA), Moran’s I spatial autocorrelation, Kruskal–Wallis tests, and Spearman correlations, to evaluate environmental drivers of benthic condition. Results revealed pronounced variability associated with gradients in organic enrichment and hydrodynamic conditions. Organic matter, dissolved oxygen, and pH emerged as the main variables structuring benthic communities, with <i>Cirratulus cirratus</i> and <i>Chaetozone setosa</i> identified as indicators of enriched sediments. Areas characterized by weak bottom circulation and spatial clustering of enrichment indicators, such as Chaulinec and Quellón, were associated with higher organic matter levels, whereas stations located beyond approximately 1–1.5&#xa0;km from farming concessions showed greater diversity and lower dominance. These findings demonstrate that benthic assemblages are structured by the interaction of enrichment gradients, basin morphology, and hydrodynamic variability, providing a regional ecosystem-level perspective on benthic variability in aquaculture-influenced fjord systems.</p>

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Ecological patterns of benthic communities in relation to salmon aquaculture in the Inner Sea of Chiloé (southern Chile)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月15日

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  • Pablo M. Rojas,
  • Sandra Saavedra,
  • Jorge Pierini

摘要

The expansion of salmon aquaculture in southern Chile has raised concerns about its potential influence on benthic ecosystems in fjord environments. This study examined spatial and temporal patterns of sediment quality and macrofaunal diversity across four ecological zones of the Inner Sea of Chiloé, using data from 281 monitoring stations collected between 2012 and 2016. Analyses combined ecological indices with multivariate and spatial statistical approaches, including redundancy analysis (RDA), Moran’s I spatial autocorrelation, Kruskal–Wallis tests, and Spearman correlations, to evaluate environmental drivers of benthic condition. Results revealed pronounced variability associated with gradients in organic enrichment and hydrodynamic conditions. Organic matter, dissolved oxygen, and pH emerged as the main variables structuring benthic communities, with Cirratulus cirratus and Chaetozone setosa identified as indicators of enriched sediments. Areas characterized by weak bottom circulation and spatial clustering of enrichment indicators, such as Chaulinec and Quellón, were associated with higher organic matter levels, whereas stations located beyond approximately 1–1.5 km from farming concessions showed greater diversity and lower dominance. These findings demonstrate that benthic assemblages are structured by the interaction of enrichment gradients, basin morphology, and hydrodynamic variability, providing a regional ecosystem-level perspective on benthic variability in aquaculture-influenced fjord systems.