Publicaciones

Alimentos, Tecnologías Vegetales Y Paleoambiente En Las Aldeas Formativas De La Pampa Del Tamarugal, Tarapacá (ca. 900 AC-BOO DC).

García, M., Vidal, A., Mandakovic, V., Maldonado, A., Peña, M., & Belmonte, E.

Este trabajo pretende introducir a los usos e imaginarios relacionados con las plantas en las aldeas formativas de la Pampa del Tamarugal, Tarapacá (Chile). Se estudiaron los restos vegetales recuperados de las excavaciones de los sitios Pircas y Caserones, en la quebrada de Tarapacá, así como de Guatacondo 1 y Ramaditas, en la de Guatacondo. Estas aldeas poseen contextos domésticos, ceremoniales, mortuorios y de almacenaje, asociados a alimentos silvestres y cultivados, así como un amplio universo artefactual, principalmente en madera, que incluye materias primas, instrumentos y desechos de talla. Se concluye que, si bien las cuatro aldeas comparten aspectos significativos como su orientación agrícola y forestal, las ocupaciones de ambas cuencas expresan situaciones disímiles que permiten cuestionar la noción evolucionista que se ha tenido del período Formativo como una sucesión unilineal de etapas de progreso.

Año: 2014

Palabras claves: Aldeas - Prosopis - alimentos - tecnologías vegetales -período Formativo - Tarapacá.

Rise and fall in diversity of Neogene marine vertebrates on the temperate Pacific coast of South America.

Villafaña, J. & Rivadeneira, M.

Año: 2014

Palabras claves:

EltonTraits 1.0: Species-level foraging attributes of the world’s birds and mammals.

Wilman, H., Belmaker, J., Simpson, J., de la Rosa, C., Rivadeneira, M., & Jetz, W.

Species are characterized by physiological, behavioral, and ecological attributes that are all subject to varying evolutionary and ecological constraints and jointly determine species' role and function in ecosystems. Attributes such as diet, foraging strata, foraging time, and body size, in particular, characterize a large portion of the “Eltonian” niches of species. Here we present a global species-level compilation of these key attributes for all 9993 and 5400 extant bird and mammal species derived from key literature sources. Global handbooks and monographs allowed the consistent sourcing of attributes for most species. For diet and foraging stratum we followed a defined protocol to translate the verbal descriptions into standardized, semiquantitative information about relative importance of different categories. Together with body size (continuous) and activity time (categorical) this enables a much finer distinction of species' foraging ecology than typical categorical guild assignments allow. Attributes lacking information for specific species are flagged, and interpolated values based on taxonomy are provided instead. The presented data set is limited by, among others, these select cases missing observed data, by errors and uncertainty in the expert assessment as presented in the literature, and by the lack of intraspecific information. However, the standardized and transparent nature and complete global coverage of the data set should support an array of potential studies in biogeography, community ecology, macroevolution, global change biology, and conservation. Potential uses include comparative work involving these traits as focal or secondary variables, ecological research on the trait or trophic structure of communities, or conservation science concerned with the loss of function among species or in ecosystems in a changing world. We hope that this publication will spur the sharing, collaborative curation, and extension of data to the benefit of a more integrative, rigorous, and global biodiversity science.

Año: 2014

Palabras claves: Bird; body size; diet; eco-informatics; foraging; function; mammal; mass; niche; stratum; traits; vertebrate.

Genetic assessment of parentage in the caridean rock shrimp Rhynchocinetes typus based on microsatellite markers.

Bailie, D., Thiel, M., Fitzpatrick, S., Connolly, M., Prodöhl, P., & Hynes, R.

Over the past decade, the common rock shrimp, Rhynchocinetes typus H. Milne Edwards, 1837, has been the focus of extensive investigations on mating behaviour. The species is now perceived as a model system for the study of reproductive strategies and sexual conflict in crustaceans displaying external fertilization. Using molecular markers, the current study assesses whether social mating behaviour in common rock shrimp translates into true genetic parentage. In a large mesocosm tank with >200 individuals of both sexes, the analysis of 15 families (22 eggs per female) for three informative microsatellites unambiguously confirmed multiple paternity in 11 instances (73%) involving, in each case, two to four males. Where more than one male was identified siring a particular brood, reproductive skew was apparent towards a single individual. Results suggest that multiple paternity in this species results from subordinate male coercive behaviour, female solicitation of multiple male matings or a combination of both.
Over the past decade, the common rock shrimp, Rhynchocinetes typus H. Milne Edwards, 1837, has been the focus of extensive investigations on mating behaviour. The species is now perceived as a model system for the study of reproductive strategies and sexual conflict in crustaceans displaying external fertilization. Using molecular markers, the current study assesses whether social mating behaviour in common rock shrimp translates into true genetic parentage. In a large mesocosm tank with >200 individuals of both sexes, the analysis of 15 families (22 eggs per female) for three informative microsatellites unambiguously confirmed multiple paternity in 11 instances (73%) involving, in each case, two to four males. Where more than one male was identified siring a particular brood, reproductive skew was apparent towards a single individual. Results suggest that multiple paternity in this species results from subordinate male coercive behaviour, female solicitation of multiple male matings or a combination of both.

Año: 2014

Palabras claves: Cryptic female choice; multiple paternity; convenience polyandry.

Effects of predation on diel activity and habitat use of the coral-reef shrimp Cinetorhynchus hendersoni (Rhynchocinetidae).

Ory, N., Dudgeon, D., Duprey, N., & Thiel, M.

Nonlethal effects of predators on prey behaviour are still poorly understood, although they may have cascading effects through food webs. Underwater observations and experiments were conducted on a shallow fringing coral reef in Malaysia to examine whether predation risks affect diel activity, habitat use, and survival of the rhynchocinetid shrimp Cinetorhynchus hendersoni. The study site was within a protected area where predatory fish were abundant. Visual surveys and tethering experiments were conducted in April–May 2010 to compare the abundance of shrimps and predatory fishes and the relative predation intensity on shrimps during day and night. Shrimps were not seen during the day but came out of refuges at night, when the risk of being eaten was reduced. Shrimp preferences for substrata of different complexities and types were examined at night when they could be seen on the reef; complex substrata were preferred, while simple substrata were avoided. Shrimps were abundant on high-complexity columnar–foliate Porites rus, but tended to make little use of branching Acropora spp. Subsequent tethering experiments, conducted during daytime in June 2013, compared the relative mortality of shrimps on simple (sand–rubble, massive Porites spp.) and complex (P. rus, branching Acropora spp.) substrata under different predation risk scenarios (i.e., different tether lengths and exposure durations). The mortality of shrimps with short tethers (high risk) was high on all substrata while, under low and intermediate predation risks (long tethers), shrimp mortality was reduced on complex corals relative to that on sand–rubble or massive Porites spp. Overall, mortality was lowest on P. rus. Our study indicates that predation risks constrain shrimp activity and habitat choice, forcing them to hide deep inside complex substrata during the day. Such behavioural responses to predation risks and their consequences for the trophic role of invertebrate mesoconsumers warrant further investigation, especially in areas where predatory fishes have been overexploited.

Año: 2014

Palabras claves: Rhynchocinetid shrimps, Habitat complexity, Substratum structure, Predator–prey interactions, Risk effects,Tethering.

Antarctic Ecology One Century after the Conquest of the South Pole: How Much Have We Advanced?.

Acuna-Rodriguez, I., Gianoli, E., Carrasco-Urra, F., Stotz, G., Salgado-Luarte, C., Rios, R., & Molina-Montenegro, M.

The knowledge derived from Antarctic ecology may be fundamental for facing the complex environmental future of the world. As an early-warning system, a deep understanding of Antarctic ecosystems is therefore needed, but Antarctic ecology as a field is still very young and currently under consolidation. Around the world, 55 nations are involved in this task through their research programs, and, considering the importance of this joint effort, we evaluate some basic trends of their publications through a wide bibliographical review of Antarctic ecology. All ecology-related Antarctic papers published for 106 years (1904–2010) were reviewed. A lack of population and ecosystem research was observed, even in Animalia, the most studied kingdom. The publications originated mainly in developed countries; however, emerging countries have increased their participation in recent years. The current trends of Antarctic ecology as a field show a constant but low representation in both Antarctic science and ecology.

Año: 2014

Palabras claves: Antarctic ecology, scientific publications, Antarctic research, international territorial administration, Web of Science

Assessing the importance of human activities for the establishment of the invasive Poa annua in Antarctica.

Molina-Montenegro, M., Carrasco-Urra, F., Acuña-Rodríguez, I., Oses, R., Torres-Díaz, C., & Chwedorzewska, K.

Because of its harsh environmental conditions and remoteness, Antarctica is often considered to be at low risk of plant invasion. However, an increasing number of reports have shown the presence and spread of non-native plants in Antarctica; it is therefore important to study which factors control the invasion process in this ecosystem. Here, we assessed the role of different human activities on the presence and abundance of the invasive Poa annua. In addition, we performed a reciprocal transplant experiment in the field, and a manipulative experiment of germination with P. annua and the natives Colobanthus quitensis and Deschampsia antarctica, in order to unravel the effects of physical soil disturbance on the establishment and survival of P. annua. We found a positive correlation between abundance of P. annua and level of soil disturbance, and that survival of P. annua was 33% higher in sites with disturbed soil than non-disturbed. Finally, we found that disturbance conditions increased germination for P. annua, whereas for native species germination in experimentally disturbed soil was either unchanged or reduced compared to undisturbed soil. Our results indicate that human activities that modify abiotic soil characteristics could play an important role in the abundance of this invasive species. If the current patterns of human activities are maintained in Antarctica, the establishment success and spread of P. annua could increase, negatively affecting native flora.

Año: 2014

Palabras claves: Alien species; Colobanthus quitensis; Deschampsia antarctica; human disturbance; Poa annua; tourists.

Environmental and climatic changes in central Chilean Patagonia since the Late Glacial (Mallín El Embudo, 44° S).

de Porras, M., Maldonado, A., Quintana, F., Martel-Cea, A., Reyes, O., & Méndez, C.

Multi-millennial environmental and climatic changes in central Chilean Patagonia (44–49° S) during the Last Glacial–Interglacial cycle have been of particular interest as changes in the position and strength of the southern westerlies are the major forcing factor conditioning the environmental dynamics. Recent attempts to reconstruct regional environmental and climatic signals from central Chilean Patagonia reveal some discrepancies and unclear issues among the records. This paper presents the 13 ka pollen and charcoal records from Mallín El Embudo (44° 40' S, 71° 42' W) located in the deciduous Nothofagus forest in the middle Río Cisnes valley. The paper aims to (1) establish the timing and magnitude of local vegetation changes and fire activity since the Late Glacial and (2) integrate these results at the regional scale in order to discuss the discrepancies and depict the environmental and climatic dynamics in central Chilean Patagonia since the Late Glacial. Open landscapes dominated by grasses associated with scattered Nothofagus forest patches dominated the middle Río Cisnes valley between 13 and 11.2 ka suggesting low effective moisture but also indicating that landscape configuration after glacial retreat was still ongoing. At 11.2 ka, the sudden development of an open and quite dynamic Nothofagus forest probably associated with the synchronous high fire activity occurred, suggesting a rise in effective moisture associated with dry summers. Since 9.5 ka, the record reflects the presence of a closed Nothofagus forest related to higher effective moisture conditions than before combined with moderate dry summers that may have triggered a high frequency of low-magnitude crown fires that did not severely affect the forest. The forest experienced a slight canopy opening after 5.7 ka, probably due to slightly drier conditions than before followed by a sudden change to open forest conditions around 4.2 ka associated with fire and volcanic disturbances. Around 2 ka, the recovery of a closed Nothofagus forest related to slightly wetter conditions (similar to present) occurred and persisted under highly variable climatic conditions up to 0.1 ka when massive forest burning and logging due to European settlements occurred. Central Chilean Patagonian climatic and environmental changes at millennial–centennial timescales since the Late Glacial were driven by changes in the southern westerlies latitudinal position and/or intensity, but during the late Holocene fire, volcanism and humans arose as forces contributing to environmental dynamics.

Año: 2014

Palabras claves:

Climatic drivers of tree growth in a swamp forest island in the semiarid coast of Chile.

Peña, M., Barichivich, J., & Maldonado, A.

Isolated patches of swamp forests surrounded by xerophytic vegetation occur along the semiarid coast of Chile. Supported by shallow groundwater, these unique ecosystems have endured a long-term aridity trend during the Holocene and historical land use change. In this study, we investigated the patterns and climate drivers of annual tree growth in a coastal swamp dominated by the hygrophilous tree Myrceugenia exsucca. A tree-ring width chronology spanning the period 1864–2007 was developed and compared with long-term precipitation, temperature and soil moisture dynamics. There is a general lack of significant climate response during the earlier part of the 20th century, but a time-dependent positive growth response to temperature and moisture variability took place following partial drainage of the forest (1930s). Furthermore, a shift from a concurrent to a lagged growth response to moisture occurred around 1980, coinciding with increased frequency of ENSO-related moisture extremes. These results suggest that the ecological functioning of swamp forests in this region is very resilient to short-term climate variability, but even slight drainage disturbance can trigger very dynamic growth responses to climate variability. The degree of anthropogenic disturbance of these ecosystems will likely influence their response to projected increases in regional aridity during the coming decades.

Año: 2014

Palabras claves: Dendrochronology; Drought; ENSO; Groundwater; Swamp forest.