General Description and Scientific Significance

The CIMAR 22 Oceanic Islands Cruise was conducted between October 12 and November 15, 2016, aboard the oceanographic research vessel AGS-61 Cabo de Hornos of the Chilean Navy, as part of the Marine Research Cruises in Remote Areas Program (CIMAR), coordinated by the National Oceanographic Committee (CONA). The expedition involved researchers from several Chilean universities and institutions, including the Millennium Institute of Oceanography (IMO).

Chilean universities and institutions, including the Millennium Institute of Oceanography (IMO). The main objective of the campaign was to characterize the oceanographic, biological, chemical, and geological conditions of the Southeastern Pacific, particularly in the region associated with Chilean oceanic islands, including San Félix, San Ambrosio, Alejandro Selkirk, and the Juan Fernández Archipelago, as well as the submarine mountains located in this remote oceanic region.

The expedition aimed to understand the functioning of oceanic ecosystems associated with insular environments and submarine structures, evaluating the interaction between physical, chemical, and biological processes that determine productivity, biodiversity, and the distribution of marine organisms in one of the least studied regions of the global ocean.

During the campaign, oceanographic sampling was conducted along oceanic transects and deep-water stations, obtaining information on the water column through hydrographic profiles and chemical and biological sampling. Phytoplankton, zooplankton, ichthyoplankton, and other components of the pelagic ecosystem were studied, together with the geomorphological characteristics of submarine mountains and island environments.

The data obtained during this expedition contributed to establishing a scientific baseline for understanding the functioning of remote oceanic ecosystems and supported subsequent research by the institute related to pelagic biodiversity, biogeochemical cycles, oxygen minimum zones, and deep-ocean exploration.

 

Scientific Objectives

• Characterize the physical and chemical oceanographic conditions of the Southeastern Pacific in remote oceanic regions.
• Analyze the structure and vertical distribution of planktonic communities, particularly zooplankton, across different oceanic environments.
• Evaluate the relationship between oceanographic variables (temperature, salinity, oxygen, nutrients, and productivity) and the distribution of marine organisms.
• Study pelagic biodiversity associated with oceanic islands and submarine mountains.
• Characterize biological processes associated with the transport of matter and energy throughout the water column.
• Generate scientific information to understand the functioning of marine ecosystems associated with protected oceanic areas, including the surroundings of the Nazca-Desventuradas Marine Park.
• Establish an oceanographic and biological baseline for regions of the Southeastern Pacific with limited scientific observations.

Onboard Technology

• Oceanographic research vessel AGS-61 Cabo de Hornos of the Chilean Navy.
• CTD-Rosette system with Niskin bottles for hydrographic characterization and water sampling.
• Plankton nets for sampling zooplankton and phytoplankton communities at different depths.
• Oceanographic instrumentation for measuring physical and chemical variables of the water column.
• Biological sampling equipment for marine biodiversity and community structure analyses.
• Acoustic systems and seafloor characterization tools for the study of submarine mountains and oceanic structures.

Participating Institutions

• National Oceanographic Committee (CONA).
• Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Navy (SHOA).
• Chilean Navy.
• Millennium Institute of Oceanography (IMO)
• University of Concepción.
• Universities and national institutions participating in the CIMAR Program.