Abstract

In Chile, there are no references on the effects of mining discharges on populations and communities of the shallow subtidal habitats. During 1996-1997, covering more than 1500 km of coast (in polluted and control areas), a study was carried out to account for the chemical characterization of copper and iron discharges, the distribution of heavy metals in Lessonia trabeculata, the distribution of heavy metals in water, changes on Lessonia composition and quality of phycocolloid and morphology, as well as the effects upon the macroinvertebrate community associated with Lessonia holdfast and on the rocky subtidal community. The obtained data indicate that the levels of heavy metals in seawater, plants and alginates of Lessonia in contaminated and pristine sites are highly variable.