Abstract

The coast of central Chile is characterized by the occurrence of coastal upwelling during the austral spring and summer seasons, which probably has important consequences for the cross-shelf transport of larval stages of many species. Three cruises were conducted off the locality of El Quisco during upwelling-favorable wind periods to determine the surface distribution of epineustonic competent larvae of the gastropod Concholepas concholepas during such events. Contrary to the predictions of a traditional model, where neustonic-type larvae are transported offshore under such conditions, competent larvae of this species were exclusively found in the area between the shore and the upwelling front. Two additional cruises were conducted during calm periods to determine diel variation in the vertical distribution of C. concholepas competent larvae. The absence of competent larvae at the surface during early night hours suggests a reverse vertical migration. Thus, the retention of C. concholepas competent larvae in the upwelled waters could be the result of the interaction between their reverse diel vertical migration and the typical two-layer upwelling dynamics.