Table 5.1
(continued)
Ecoregion
Climate and oceanography
Coastal, shelf and seafloor morphology
Main ecosystems represented
Gorgona Island
(GOR)
Relatively clear waters
Mountain island covered by rain forest
Rocky and sandy shores, fringing
coral carpets and reefs,
submerged rocky and soft
bottoms
Malpelo Island
(MAL)
Oceanic island surrounded by waters up to
1,000 m depth
Steep basaltic cliffs, insular shelf absent
Rocky bottoms; scattered coral
carpets; breeding area for oceanic
birds
Oceanic Pacific
(PAO)
Moderately high pelagic productivity enhanced
by nutrients from terrestrial runoff
Territorial and Economic Exclusive Oceanic
Zone from 200 to 3,000 m depth
It is one of the most important
commercial tuna fishing areas in
American Pacific
152
M. Benavides-Serrato et al.
(continued)
Ecoregion
Climate and oceanography
Coastal, shelf and seafloor morphology
Main ecosystems represented
Gorgona Island
(GOR)
Relatively clear waters
Mountain island covered by rain forest
Rocky and sandy shores, fringing
coral carpets and reefs,
submerged rocky and soft
bottoms
Malpelo Island
(MAL)
Oceanic island surrounded by waters up to
1,000 m depth
Steep basaltic cliffs, insular shelf absent
Rocky bottoms; scattered coral
carpets; breeding area for oceanic
birds
Oceanic Pacific
(PAO)
Moderately high pelagic productivity enhanced
by nutrients from terrestrial runoff
Territorial and Economic Exclusive Oceanic
Zone from 200 to 3,000 m depth
It is one of the most important
commercial tuna fishing areas in
American Pacific
152
M. Benavides-Serrato et al.