The tropical sea It is the marine space influenced by the El Niño current, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, north of Peru. This current constitutes the southern part of the Panama Current, which comes from the Gulf of Panama and later from Colombia..
The tropical sea, together with the cold sea, constitute the entire maritime space of Peru in the Pacific Ocean. This territory is officially called the Sea of Grau.
The tropical sea extends from the border with Ecuador on the lower line of Boca de Capones (3º south latitude) to the Illescas peninsula, in the department of Piura (5º south latitude). It constitutes the northern or northern region of the Sea of Grau.
Due to the low latitudes and the influence of the El Niño current, the waters of the tropical sea are warm and with a very high biodiversity. Unlike the waters of the cold sea, characterized by its low temperatures and high productivity.
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The waters of the tropical sea are warm during all times of the year. Its temperature can vary between 19ºC and 22ºC in the hottest season of the year. This is due to the proximity to the equator and to the influence of the El Niño current, formed by warm waters..
It has a low salinity due to the high rainfall of the tropical zone. Unlike the cold sea of Peru, its nutrient content is low, so its productivity is lower.
The bluish color, temperature and abundant biodiversity of the tropical sea make it an important tourist destination for Peru..
The El Niño current is the seasonal flow of warm equatorial waters that travel off the north coast of the Peruvian Pacific, in a north-south direction. This collides with the cold current that comes from the south and they deviate towards the west.
It has an important effect on the climate of Peru by generating regular or sudden rains and death events of large masses of plankton..
The mangrove is a type of wetland that develops in areas influenced by tides in which a mixture of salt and fresh water occurs. In Peru this type of ecosystem is restricted to the tropical sea. It covers a total area of 5870 ha, less than 0.01% of the national total.
Mangroves are plant formations with a predominance of different species of mangroves: red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), red mangroveRhizophora harrisonii), white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa), black mangroveAvicennia germinans) and pineapple mangrove (Conocarpus erectus).
Other arboreal plant species present in the mangroves are also the faique (Acacia macracantha), the charán (Caesalpinia paipai), the carob tree (Prosopis pallida), the palo santo (Bursera graveolens), the añalque (Coccoloba ruiziana), the ceibo (Ceiba trichistandra), the lipe (Scutia spicata), the green stick (Parkinsonia aculeata), among other.
Some species of climbing plants and epiphytes also inhabit the mangroves. The pitaya, a liana of the genus Selenicereus sp., bromeliads such as Tillandsia usneoides and some orchids of the genera Oncidium, Epidemdrum and Cattleya.
Mangrove roots serve as a substrate for many species of invertebrate echinoderms (Ophiothrix), crabs (Ucides), snails (Calliostoma, Theodoxus) and barnacles (Pollicipes).
In addition, some species are subjected to great extraction pressure for commercial uses. The bibalbos stand out, such as the black shell, hollow shell, donkey leg shell (of the genus Anadara), the lampa shell (Atrina maura), the striped shell (Chione subrugosa) and mussel (Mytella guyanensis). As well as prawns (Pennaeus spp.) and jaivas (Callinectes).
On the other hand, mangroves are a refuge for larvae and juveniles of a great diversity of fish species. The snook stand out (Centropomus viridis), red snapper (Lutjanus guttatus), mojarras (Eucinostomus currani), the lisa (Mugil spp) and catfish (Galeichthys peruvianus).
Large species such as the river crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) and the Northwest Otter (Lutra longicaudis).
The branches of mangroves and other tree species are used as roosts and nesting sites by a large number of bird species such as pelicans (Pelecanus thagus Y Pelecanus occidentalis), Chilean flamenco (Phoenicopterus chilensis), ibis (Eudocimus albus and Eudocimus ruber), the frigate (Fregata magnificens) and the cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)
Intermarial ecosystems are those that develop in a transitional space between terrestrial and marine environments. Specifically, it ranges from the highest to the lowest level influenced by the tides. On the Peruvian coast this area is represented by sandy beaches, stony beaches and rocky coastlines.
It constitutes the least diverse ecosystem. Highlight a low diversity of macrobenthos. At the supralittoral level, the highest area, the road crab (Ocypode gaudichaudii) and the isopod Excirolana braziliensis.
In the intermediate level (mesolitoral areas) the crustaceans are distributed Callianassa garthi Y Emerita analoga, and the mollusks Mesodesma donacium and Donax marincovichi. Other associated species are the polychaetes (Thoracophelia, Lumbrineris, Nephthys impressa Y Hemipodus biannulatus).
The sandy beaches of the North Sea are characterized by very abundant populations of filter snail Olivella columellaris.
Rocky coastlines are very heterogeneous environments with a great variety of microhabitats, which favors an increase in the biodiversity of this ecosystem..
In the supralittoral zone, gastropods predominate Peruvian Nodilittorina and crustaceans Grapsus grapsus.
While in the mesolitoral zone, located in the intermediate section of the rocky coastline, which presents a greater effect of the tides, the macroalgae meadows of the genera Porolithon, Enteromorpha, Hynea, Cladophora Y Gracilaria.
As for the fauna, the barnacles dominate Jehlius cirratus and the bivalves Perumytilus purpuratus Y Semimytilus algosus.
Finally, in the infralittoral zone, the one that is always submerged, the following types of algae stand out: Gelidium, Hypnea, Gracilaria Y Laurencia (red algae), Sargasum Y Dictyota (brown algae), and Halimeda, Caulerpa, Ulva (green algae).
In addition, numerous populations of barnacles are present in this area. Austromegabalanus psittacus and the polychaete Phragmatopoma moerchi. Some species of actinias can also be found (Anthothoe chilensis Y Phymactis clematis).
Among the fish associated with these rocky littoral ecosystems, the car fish (Balistes polylepis), the carrot fish (Antennarius avalonis), the brunette (Gymnothorax porphyreus), the drunk fish (Scartichthys gigas) and ek trambollo (Labrisomos philipii).
Stony beaches represent the transition zone between sandy beaches and rocky shores. These can be either pebbled or sharp-edged beaches..
The characteristic fauna of these beaches is similar to that of the rocky coastlines. However, certain peculiarities stand out, such as the presence in the supralittoral zone of isopods Ligia novaezelandiae, the polychaete Hemipodus biannulatus, and the crustaceans Pinnotherelia laevigata Y Cyclograpsus cinereus.
In the mesolitoral zone inhabits the amphipod Prisogaster niger. While in the infralittoral zone the amphipod is found Tegula tridentata.
The most representative marine ecosystem of the tropical sea of Peru is the coral reef. These constitute one of the ecosystems with the greatest biodiversity in the world.
Coral reefs are found in shallow seas, with warm temperatures (between 25 and 29 ºC), mainly in the tropical and subtropical zone of the planet..
Coral reefs are supported by a calcareous mass formed by cemented corals over millions of years. Corals grow on these complex structures, made up of colonies of polyps that establish a symbiotic association with photosynthetic zooxanthellae algae..
In the coral reefs of the tropical sea of Peru, different coral species coexist, in addition to a great diversity of other invertebrates and fish. Among the fish, the families Serranidae, Pomacentridae, Labridae, Haemulidae, Diodontidae and Chaetodontidae predominate..
The high biodiversity associated with coral reefs is threatened by the effects of climate change. Increased temperatures, ocean acidification, sediment accumulation and increased concentration of nutrients are the main threats.
In the waters of the Eastern Pacific, the influence of the El Niño current is added. Due to the increase in water temperature, it has caused irreversible coral bleaching events.
The tropical sea of Peru ranges from the low tide line to 200 miles out to sea. In this territory there are three different zones: the coastal, the neritic and the oceanic.
The coastal zone ranges from the coastal marine zone to a depth of 30 meters.
The neritic zone ranges from the 30-meter deep line to the limit of the continental shelf, approximately 200 meters deep..
In the tropical sea of Peru, the neritic zone contains the continental base. This is 50 km wide at the height of the department of Tumbes and 40 km in front of the Sechura desert. Getting narrower at the southern tip of the tropical sea.
The oceanic zone is one that is found after the limit of the continental shelf. This can reach thousands of meters deep.
The oceanic zone includes the continental slope, a depression to the west of the continental base that exceeds 6,000 m in depth. In this area are underwater canyons, valleys or cavities on steep slopes, similar in appearance to canyons on the earth's surface..
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