Publicaciones

Social-Ecological Collapse: TURF Governance in the Context of Highly Variable Resources in Chile.

Aburto, J., Stotz, W., & Cundill, G.

In Chile, a Territorial User Rights for Fisheries system was developed to manage benthic fisheries. This system is referred to as Management Areas for the Exploitation of Benthic Resources. Management areas involved a shift from top-down control by governments to comanagement. We have analyzed the effects of a highly variable fishery, characterized by boom-and-bust cycles, on the governance of local institutions designed for resource management. We focused on a case study in north central Chile, in which the surf clam fishery experienced high levels of variability when the fishery was in an open access system. The management areas were established for the fishery in 1999. As a result, a set of rules for the fishery were created and enforced by fishers and local fishery authorities. Despite intense efforts on the part of all stakeholders, the fishery collapsed after three years of management area policy. This approach has been shown to be an effective management option for other species; however, for resources with boom-and-bust cycles, it is important to understand the response pattern of users confronting this spatial and temporal variability before the establishment of territorial user rights. Defining the appropriate spatial scale of the territorial rights could allow fishers to switch among different surf clam beds to maintain their livelihood and support the sustainability of local institutions for resource management.

Año: 2014

Palabras claves: Governance; management area; small-scale fishery; social-ecological; TURF.

Quinoa biodiversity and sustainability for food security under climate change.

Ruiz, K., Biondi, S., Oses, R., Acuña-Rodríguez, I., Antognoni, F., & Martinez-Mosqueira, E. et al.

Climate change is rapidly degrading the conditions of crop production. For instance, increasing salinization and aridity is forecasted to increase in most parts of the world. As a consequence, new stress-tolerant species and genotypes must be identified and used for future agriculture. Stress-tolerant species exist but are actually underutilized and neglected. Many stress-tolerant species are indeed traditional crops that are only cultivated by farmers at a local scale. Those species have a high biodiversity value. Besides, the human population will probably reach nine billion within coming decades. To keep pace with population growth, food production must increase dramatically despite the limited availability of cultivable land and water. Here, we review the benefits of quinoa, Chenopodium quinoa Willd., a seed crop that has endured the harsh bioclimatic conditions of the Andes since ancient times. Although the crop is still mainly produced in Bolivia and Peru, agronomic trials and cultivation are spreading to many other countries. Quinoa maintains productivity on rather poor soils and under conditions of water shortage and high salinity. Moreover, quinoa seeds are an exceptionally nutritious food source, owing to their high protein content with all essential amino acids, lack of gluten, and high content of several minerals, e.g., Ca, Mg, Fe, and health-promoting compounds such as flavonoids. Quinoa has a vast genetic diversity resulting from its fragmented and localized production over the centuries in the Andean region, from Ecuador to southern Chile, and from sea level to the altiplano. Quinoa can be adapted to diverse agroecological conditions worldwide. Year 2013 has therefore been declared the International Year of Quinoa by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Here, we review the main characteristics of quinoa, its origin and genetic diversity, its exceptional tolerance to drought and salinity, its nutritional properties, the reasons why this crop can offer several ecosystem services, and the role of Andean farmers in preserving its agrobiodiversity. Finally, we propose a schematic model integrating the fundamental factors that should determine the future utilization of quinoa, in terms of food security, biodiversity conservation, and cultural identity.

Año: 2014

Palabras claves: Agrobiodiversity, Quinoa, Food security, Food quality, Stress tolerance, Andean farmers, Sustainability.

Differential susceptibility to the Withering Syndrome agent and renal coccidia in juvenile Haliotis rufescens, Haliotis discus hannai and the interspecific hybrid.

González, R., Lohrmann, K., Pizarro, J., & Brokordt, K.

Withering Syndrome (WS) is a pathogenic chronic disease caused by the intracellular rickettsial-like bacterium “Candidatus Xenohaliotis californiensis” (WS-RLOs), which affects many abalone species. The renal coccidium (Margolisiella haliotis) has often been observed concurrent with WS infection. The red abalone Haliotis rufescens is a very susceptible species to WS and is also infected by the coccidium M. haliotis. In contrast, the Japanese abalone Haliotis discus hannai is not infected by these parasites. Interspecific hybridization is a method for improving important traits in animal husbandry. The objective of this study was to determine susceptibility to WS-RLO and M. haliotis infection in the hybrid generated from a cross between red and Japanese abalones. Juveniles from both species and the interspecific hybrid were challenged by exposure to effluent from red abalone adults infected with both parasites. The animals were analyzed by histology at 130 days post-challenge. A 33% prevalence WS-RLOs was observed in the red abalone H. rufescens, whereas a 20% prevalence was observed in the hybrid. Infections were graded on a scale of 0–3. Of these red abalones infected, 53% presented grade 1 infection intensity, 10% had grade 2 infections, and 50% had grade 3 infections. However, the hybrids only presented intensities at the extremes of the scale; of those infected 33% showed grade 1 infections and 66% had grade 3 infections. The coccidium prevalence was 7% in red abalone individuals and 13% in the hybrid abalone. In contrast, the Japanese abalone did not present infections with either parasite. As with the prevalence, the infection intensities for the coccidium were higher in the hybrid abalone; of those infected 25% had grade 2 infections, and 75% had grade 3 infections, but the red abalone presented only grade 2 infection intensities. Therefore, the hybrid did not inherited non-susceptibility or resistance characteristics of the parental H. discus hannai and possessed biological conditions that could foster development of both parasites. Development of a culture based on this hybrid abalone should consider its susceptibility to infection by coccidian, WS-RLOs and the potential for developing the WS disease.

Año: 2014

Palabras claves: Withering Syndrome; Candidatus Xenohaliotis californiensis; Coccidium Margolisiella haliotis; Haliotis rufescens; Haliotis discus hannai; Abalone hybrid.

Phylogeographic Structure in Benthic Marine Invertebrates of the Southeast Pacific Coast of Chile with Differing Dispersal Potential.

Haye, P., Segovia, N., Muñoz-Herrera, N., Gálvez, F., Martínez, A., & Meynard, A. et al.

The role of dispersal potential on phylogeographic structure, evidenced by the degree of genetic structure and the presence of coincident genetic and biogeographic breaks, was evaluated in a macrogeographic comparative approach along the north-central coast of Chile, across the biogeographic transition zone at 30°S. Using 2,217 partial sequences of the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I gene of eight benthic invertebrate species along ca. 2,600 km of coast, we contrasted dispersal potential with genetic structure and determined the concordance between genetic divergence between biogeographic regions and the biogeographic transition zone at 30°S. Genetic diversity and differentiation highly differed between species with high and low dispersal potential. Dispersal potential, sometimes together with biogeographic region, was the factor that best explained the genetic structure of the eight species. The three low dispersal species, and one species assigned to the high dispersal category, had a phylogeographic discontinuity coincident with the biogeographic transition zone at 30°S. Furthermore, coalescent analyses based on the isolation-with-migration model validate that the split between biogeographic regions north and south of 30°S has a historic origin. The signatures of the historic break in high dispersers is parsimoniously explained by the homogenizing effects of gene flow that have erased the genetic signatures, if ever existed, in high dispersers. Of the four species with structure across the break, only two had significant albeit very low levels of asymmetric migration across the transition zone. Historic processes have led to the current biogeographic and phylogeographic structure of marine species with limited dispersal along the north-central coast of Chile, with a strong lasting impact in their genetic structure.

Año: 2014

Palabras claves: Phylogeography, Biogeography, Haplotypes, Population genetics, Chile (country), Gene flow, Larvae, Marine biology.

Estudios socio-ecológicos de largo plazo en los sitios fundadores de la red LTSER-Chile: desafíos y oportunidades para el futuro.

Gaxiola, A., Celis-Diez, J., Rozzi, R., & Gutiérrez, J.

The research carried out in the three foundational sites of the Chilean Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research Network (LTSER-Chile) aims to answer questions that reflect the regional context in which each site is immersed. The formation of the network in 2008 provided an opportunity to establish comparative studies and analyse the effects of the different components of global change could exert on different ecosystems in Chile. This study presents an analysis of the research programs of each of the three sites and presents the context in which these lines have been established. Each founder site has identified key aspects associated with local needs and the interests of the research groups that initiated and have directed the ecological or socio-ecological long-term studies. At the national scale these different approaches are complementary. First, we present an analysis and evaluation of the research conducted by each of these groups. Then, we develop a diagnosis of the research developed at each of the sites during the last two decades with the goal of identifying gaps and future research opportunities. Furthermore, this characterization will contribute to addressing the challenges and opportunities in basic and applied long-term socio-ecological research.

Año: 2014

Palabras claves: Global change, climatic change, Cape Horn, Chiloé, Fray Jorge National Park.

Induced twining in Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth.: response threshold and induction by volatiles and snail damage.

Atala, C., Quilodrán, M., & Molina-montenegro, M.

Twining in some Convolvulaceae can be induced by leaf damage and jasmonic acid application. This induced response is believed to reduce the likelihood of future leaf damage and it is limited by drought. This response has been detected in the Convolvulaceae family using artificial damage. The mechanisms and ecological implications of this response are still unknown. In this study was tested if the induced twining requires a threshold level and if it is induced by volatiles and/or by snail damage. Three separated greenhouse experiments were conducted in order to test the induced twining in Ipomoea purpurea (Convolvulaceae) by applying different levels of artificial damage (0, 1, 5, 10 perforations to the leaves), volatiles (ground leaves) and natural damage by snails. Plants receiving the two higher damage levels twined faster than the individuals exposed to the two lower damage levels. Plants exposed to grounded leaves (volatiles) twined faster than control plants. Finally, twining was induced by snail damage more than in undamaged plants. Most growth traits did not change in any treatment. Twining in I. pupurea can be induced by artificial or natural damage, and also by volatiles emitted by damaged leaves of neighbor plants, making the induced twining an ecologically relevant response.

Año: 2014

Palabras claves: Induced twining, Ipomoea purpurea, Convolvulaceae, induced responses, herbivory.

Geographical Variation of Shell Thickness in the Mussel Perumytilus purpuratus Along the Southeast Pacific Coast.

Briones, C., M.m., Rivadeneira, M., Fernández, R., Guiñez.

At broad geographical scales, the variation in bivalve shell thickness can be modulated by environmental factors that vary with latitude, such as sea surface temperature (SST), seawater pH, or calcium carbonate availability. Mussels usually form multilayered beds, and shell thickness is also expected to be affected by density and layering due to intraspecific competition. In this work, we explored the geographical variation of shell thickness in the intertidal mussel Perumytilus purpuratus between 18° and 42°S along the southeastern Pacific coast. We tested the hypothesis that there was a positive relationship between shell thickness and SST, and then we explored other variables that could have an effect on thickness, such as density, number of layers, and others environmental variables (pH and calcite concentration). The expected positive linear relationship between shell thickness and sea surface temperature was not found, but when the other population variables were included in the analysis, an unexpected inverse SST-thickness relationships appeared as significant, probably because this species could be adapted to colder and more acid seawater as are those of the tips of South America. Thickness was also negatively affected by density, which was expected for a gregarious species howing high intraspecific competition.Finally, our results highlight the importance of including density and crowding effects when macroscale patterns are explored, particularly in gregarious species, since these patterns could also be modulated by density-dependent processes, which might then override latitudinal trends of shell thickness when they are not included in the analyses.

Año: 2014

Palabras claves:

Plastic Pollution in the World’s Oceans: More than 5 Trillion Plastic Pieces Weighing over 250,000 Tons Afloat at Sea.

Eriksen, M., Lebreton, L., Carson, H., Thiel, M., Moore, C., & Borerro, J. et al.

Plastic pollution is ubiquitous throughout the marine environment, yet estimates of the global abundance and weight of floating plastics have lacked data, particularly from the Southern Hemisphere and remote regions. Here we report an estimate of the total number of plastic particles and their weight floating in the world's oceans from 24 expeditions (2007–2013) across all five sub-tropical gyres, costal Australia, Bay of Bengal and the Mediterranean Sea conducting surface net tows (N = 680) and visual survey transects of large plastic debris (N = 891). Using an oceanographic model of floating debris dispersal calibrated by our data, and correcting for wind-driven vertical mixing, we estimate a minimum of 5.25 trillion particles weighing 268,940 tons. When comparing between four size classes, two microplastic <4.75 mm and meso- and macroplastic >4.75 mm, a tremendous loss of microplastics is observed from the sea surface compared to expected rates of fragmentation, suggesting there are mechanisms at play that remove <4.75 mm plastic particles from the ocean surface.

Año: 2014

Palabras claves: Oceans, Density, Particle size, Pollution, Southern Hemisphere, Indian Ocean, Marine conservation, Mediterranean Sea.

Using stakeholders’ perspective of ecosystem services and biodiversity features to plan a marine protected area.

Cárcamo, P., Garay-Flühmann, R., Squeo, F., & Gaymer, C.

The definition of a common vision that includes social and environmental goals, ecosystem services and/or biodiversity features that people are interested in maintaining or restoring is a great challenge for marine protected areas (MPAs). Recent initiatives have promoted broadening the focus from biodiversity conservation alone to the conservation of both ecosystem services and biodiversity, indicating that this integration should improve support and compliance from stakeholders. Using a Multiple-Use Coastal Marine Protected Area recently proposed in northern Chile, we investigated (i) stakeholders’ perceptions of the valuation of ecosystem services, threats to their provision, and the prioritization of ecosystem services, biodiversity features, and uses in a planning scenario, and (ii) stakeholders’ expectations for the establishment of a new MPA. The perceptions of different groups of stakeholders were compared and statistically analyzed, and the relationships among prioritizations were studied using a network approach. Stakeholders identified and valued 13 ecosystem services, 28 biodiversity features, 20 uses and activities, and 22 threats. Significant differences among the valuations and prioritizations of different stakeholder groups were attributable principally to artisanal fishermen's perceptions of some components that are directly related to their activities and livelihoods. High expectations of benefits from a new MPA implementation were observed for all categories of stakeholders. To relate the different valuated components, we proposed a network-based conceptual model that reduces complexity, and also as a strategy to communicate relationships and trade-offs occurring in this particular social–ecological system to the several stakeholders. We strongly recommend early stakeholder engagement so as to understand the variability in environmental perceptions and then reflect that variation in the planning and management actions of MPAs, thus improving support for their implementation and achieving conservation and societal goals. Our findings indicate that stakeholders’ perceptions and prioritizations of ecosystem services, biodiversity features and uses should be used as the basis for starting the MPA implementation and planning process.

Año: 2014

Palabras claves: Biodiversity; Chile; Ecosystem services; Fishermen; Multiple-Use Coastal Marine Protected Area; Stakeholders’ perceptions.