Chilean Patagonia Research Articles

Mobilizing Global Change Science for Effective Multi-Actor Governance in the Laguna San Rafael and Guayaneco Biosphere Reserve

The 1950s initiated transformative shifts in human interactions and societal behaviors, exacerbating global environmental challenges—notably, biodiversity loss. The post-2020 Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) addressed these challenges with ambitious plans to halt and reverse biodiversity losses. Supported by initiatives like UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere program, the GBF seeks to enhance sustainability through country-level strategies that will mainstream nature-positive policies and expand multi-actor conservation governance. This study supports the local-level implementation of the GBF through a roadmap for the initial phase of the knowledge-action network creation. Through a case study of the Laguna San Rafael and Guayaneco Biosphere Reserve (LSRGBR) in Chilean Patagonia, this research explores the potential for inexpensive, readily available methods to support local decision makers by increasing access to and the visibility of relevant sustainability research. The study analyzes two decades of global change (GC) research within LSRGBR zones to understand spatial trends and identify applied insights with the potential to inform governance and management strategies. Findings highlight where GC research has occurred, areas of GC research interest, how applied content has manifested, and how existing research can inform and support governance action plans. Ultimately, this research proposes an adaptable knowledge mobilization framework for the LSRGBR that can be applied to a variety of place-based needs and contexts to mobilize science for broader sustainability objectives and enhance the potential for multi-actor collaboration and governance.

Whole-genome sequencing of a Janthinobacterium sp. isolated from the Patagonian Desert.

Janthinobacterium is a genus of Gram-negative environmental bacteria that survive extreme conditions by forming biofilms and producing pigments. Janthinobacterium sp. LS2A, an extremophile isolated from soil in the Chilean Patagonia, contains seven known biosynthetic gene clusters, including the purple pigment violacein, which may aid in its survival in harsh environments.

Co- and postseismic subaquatic evidence for prehistoric fault activity near Coyhaique, Aysén Region, Chile

Abstract. Chilean Patagonia is confronted with several geohazards due to its tectonic setting, i.e., the presence of a subduction zone and numerous fault zones, e.g., the Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault Zone (LOFZ). This region has therefore been the subject of numerous paleoseismological studies. However, this study reveals that the seismic hazard is not limited to these large tectonic structures by identifying past fault activity near Coyhaique in Aysén Region. Mass-wasting deposits in Lago Pollux, a lake located ca. 15 km SW of this region's capital, were identified through analysis of reflection-seismic data and were linked to a simultaneous event recorded in nearby Lago Castor. Furthermore, a coeval ∼50-year-long catchment response was identified in Aysén Fjord based on the multiproxy analysis of a portion of a sediment core. Assuming that this widely recognized event was triggered by an earthquake, ground-motion modeling was applied to derive the most likely magnitude and source fault. The model showed that an earthquake rupture along a local fault, in the vicinity of Lago Pollux and Lago Castor, with a magnitude of 5.6–6.8, is the most likely scenario.

Small-scale geographic differences in multiple-driver environmental variability can modulate contrasting phenotypic plasticity despite high levels of gene flow

Climate change is altering not only the mean conditions of marine environments, but also their temporal variability and predictability. As these alterations are not uniform across seascapes, their biological effects are expected to accentuate intra-specific differences in the adaptive capacity (e.g., plasticity and evolutionary potential) of natural populations. To test this theoretical framework, we assessed the phenotypic and genetic profiles of mussel from three study sites across a multi-driver heterogeneous environmental mosaic in Chilean Patagonia. Our study reveals that temporal variability, predictability, and exposure to extreme events (low pH/low salinity), collectively, can modulate the plasticity and optimal conditions of mussels. Despite these phenotypic differences, we observed low genetic differentiation, likely resulting from significant gene flow induced by aquaculture, ultimately diminishing variation among individuals from different geographic areas. Our findings underscore how variability and predictability are essential factors shaping phenotypic diversity, even at small spatial scales. Balancing these factors could enhance species resilience and ecological success, crucial for biodiversity conservation amidst climate change.

Validity of Myobradypterygius hauthali von Huene, 1927 (Ichthyosauria: Ophthalmosauria) from the Early Cretaceous of Chile and Argentina

Abstract Early Cretaceous ichthyosaurs were globally distributed pelagic marine reptiles, but many remains are fragmentary, creating a Northern Hemisphere diversity bias. A rich Hauterivian locality near the Tyndall Glacier inside Torres del Paine National Park in southern Chile yields important new data regarding ichthyosaurian diversity along the Pacific margin of Gondwana. These new data will contribute to clarifying questions regarding ichthyosaur taxonomy and the palaeobiogeographical relationships between the southern Gondwanan and Northern Hemisphere ichthyosaur groups during the Early Cretaceous. Here, we describe three new ichthyosaur specimens from this locality. Two of them are referred to Myobradypterygius hauthali, expanding the distribution of this species from the Barremian of Argentina to the Hauterivian of the Chilean Patagonia. This material shows that M. hauthali differs from Platypterygius platydactylus in forefin construction and scapular morphology, supporting its classification as a separate genus within Platypterygiinae. The third specimen is a large-bodied indeterminate ophthalmosaurine ichthyosaur. This record represents the southernmost record of Ophthalmosaurinae and the first occurrence of this group from the Cretaceous of the Southern Hemisphere. These discoveries show that ophthalmosaurines and platypterygiines continued to occur sympatrically in southernmost Gondwana during the Early Cretaceous, expanding the pattern documented in Europe to the Pacific region.

The ecological roles of the European rabbit in the Magellanic/Fuegian ecosystem of southernmost Chile

The European rabbit has invaded numerous ecosystems worldwide, but rarely steppes. Since its various introduction attempts into the ecosystems of the Magallanes/Fuegian region, the rabbit has become a key player, interacting with species at different trophic levels and generating impacts on ecosystems. To better understand the role of the rabbit in steppe and scrub ecosystems, we characterised the food web in the Magallanes/Fuegian region to understand the identity of their interacting species, the mechanisms and complexities of their interactions to demonstrate that rabbit management may become more complex than just controlling a single species. Based on a bibliographic review and wildlife specialists’ opinions, we built the Magellanic/Fuegian food web, evaluated their topological properties and performed a rabbit extinction simulation to assess the possible short-term ecological mechanisms operating in the community. We found that the network had 206 nodes (64% native, 13% exotic, and 22% mixed) and 535 links among nodes. The European rabbit was the most connected node of the food web, had the second largest dietary breadth, and ranked as the seventh prey item with more predators. A rabbit extinction simulation shows a possible release of herbivory pressure on plants, including that on several native plants (e.g., Gunnera tinctoria, Pratia repens, Gavilea lutea, Tetroncium magellanicus), and a possible release of competition for some herbivores that share resources with the rabbit (e.g., Ovis aries, Lama guanicoe, Bos taurus). Although rabbit predators have a broad and generalist diet, some such as the native Galicitis cuja, could face a 20% reduction in their trophic width and could intensify predation on alternative prey. These results show that the European rabbit is strongly embedded in the Magellanic/Fuegian ecosystem and linked to several native species. Therefore, rabbit management should consider ecosystem approaches accompanied by monitoring programs on native fauna and experimental pilot studies on native flora to conserve the Chilean Patagonia community.

Progress and challenges for the establishment of a sustainable blue economy in Chiloe (Chile): Exploring the connections of a socio-ecological system

The use of coastal-marine resources is currently based on an unsustainable development model that leads to deterioration of the environment and consequent reductions in economic activities and the well-being of coastal societies. According to the conceptual framework provided by the sustainable blue economy model, this paper evaluates the effects of anthropogenic activities on the ecosystem services (ESs) of the coastal areas of the island and the sea of Chiloe, an archipelago located in Chilean Patagonia. It also analyzes how the degradation of the environment ultimately affects the economy itself and human well-being. The methodology employed is based on the construction of three matrices that connect 12 economic activities identified in the study area, with three ESs groupings (provisioning, regulating, and cultural) and four components of human well-being (security, material assets, health, and social relations). The impacts are assessed using four categories: high impact (3), moderate impact (2), low impact (1), and positive impact (0). The results reflect the domination of economic sectors that negatively affect the environment, among which salmon farming, the main activity in Chiloe, stands out. In contrast, small-scale fishing has been the highest evaluated sector, largely because of the new management instruments that have been developed in Chile. The establishment of a sustainable blue economy in Chiloe requires the application of sustainability standards –such as those proposed for small-scale fisheries– in the sectors that generate the most socio-ecological impacts.

Host specialization and spatial divergence of bacteria associated with Peltigera lichens promote landscape gamma diversity

BackgroundLichens are micro-ecosystems relying on diverse microorganisms for nutrient cycling, environmental adaptation, and structural support. We investigated the spatial-scale dependency of factors shaping the ecological processes that govern lichen-associated bacteria. We hypothesize that lichens function as island-like habitats hosting divergent microbiomes and promoting landscape gamma-diversity. Three microenvironments —thalli, substrates, and neighboring soils— were sampled from four geographically overlapping species of Peltigera cyanolichens, spanning three bioclimatic zones in the Chilean Patagonia, to determine how bacterial diversity, assembly processes, ecological drivers, interaction patterns, and niche breadth vary among Peltigera microenvironments on a broad geographical scale.ResultsThe hosts’ phylogeny, especially that of the cyanobiont, alongside climate as a secondary factor, impose a strong ecological filtering of bacterial communities within Peltigera thalli. This results in deterministically assembled, low diverse, and phylogenetically convergent yet structurally divergent bacterial communities. Host evolutionary and geographic distances accentuate the divergence in bacterial community composition of Peltigera thalli. Compared to soil and substrate, Peltigera thalli harbor specialized and locally adapted bacterial taxa, conforming sparse and weak ecological networks.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that Petigera thalli create fragmented habitats that foster landscape bacterial gamma-diversity. This underscores the importance of preserving lichens for maintaining a potential reservoir of specialized bacteria.

Traces of a sick sea: observations on sustainable maritorios and environmental suffering in Chilean Patagonia

RESUMEN Desde experiencias de investigación realizadas desde el año 2018 hasta la actualidad, se problematiza la relación entre sufrimiento ambiental y territorios sustentables. La incertidumbre que conlleva el sufrimiento ambiental, sumado a la falta de evidencia y las dificultades de levantar información científica acerca de la salud del territorio costero e insular, configura un espacio residual propicio para la baja regulación de las industrias y la profundización de sus afectaciones sobre los territorios y sus habitantes. Desde ahí que indagar en las experiencias de sufrimiento ambiental permite aproximarse a las desigualdades socio-ecológicas de la zona marino-costera de la Patagonia chilena y a las estrategias de sus habitantes para proponer y movilizar sus territorios a la sustentabilidad.

Traces of a sick sea: observations on sustainable maritorios and environmental suffering in Chilean Patagonia

RESUMO A partir de experiências de pesquisa realizadas desde o ano de 2008 até o momento, problematiza-se a relação entre sofrimento ambiental e territórios sustentáveis. A incerteza que acompanha o sofrimento ambiental, somada à falta de evidência e às dificuldades de levantar informações científicas sobre a saúde do território costeiro e insular, configura um espaço residual propício para a baixa regulamentação das indústrias e a intensificação de seus impactos sobre os territórios e seus habitantes. Nesse sentido, investigar as experiências de sofrimento ambiental permite aproximar-se das desigualdades socioecológicas da zona marinho-costeira da Patagônia chilena e das estratégias de seus habitantes para propor e mobilizar seus territórios rumo à sustentabilidade.

El legado matemático de la escritura cuneiforme: matemática funcional en la antigua mesopotamia

Tourism for the observation of large cats, such as the jaguar in the Brazilian Pantanal and the puma in Chilean Patagonia, has emerged as a powerful tool to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable economic development. This article explores the opportunities and challenges associated with this form of tourism, highlighting best practices and strategies for maximizing benefits and mitigating negative impacts. The analysis reveals that big cat tourism can provide significant economic benefits to local communities, creating livelihoods and raising living standards. However, it is crucial to maintain a balance between economic benefits and ecological sustainability. Implementing capacity limits, strict regulations, and sustainable tourism practices are essential to prevent the degradation of natural habitats and animal stress. Tourism education plays a vital role in promoting responsible behaviors among visitors. Orientation programs and the presence of experienced guides help ensure that wildlife interactions are safe and informative. Additionally, collaborating with academic institutions to monitor and research the impact of tourism on feline populations and their habitats is critical for making informed decisions. The involvement of local communities is another critical aspect. Initiatives that ensure communities directly benefit from tourism strengthen local support for conservation efforts and create sustainable income streams. Habitat restoration projects and anti-poaching units, funded by tourism revenue, can promote ecological recovery and reduce threats to wildlife. Diversification of tourism activities is also recommended to distribute pressure on wildlife habitats and extend the stay of tourists. In addition to feline watching, cultural visits, ecological trails and other activities can promote conservation and environmental education. Jaguar and cougar sighting tourism presents a valuable opportunity to promote conservation and economic development. Adopting sustainable tourism practices, education, and community engagement are essential to ensure that this form of tourism continues to thrive, benefiting both wildlife and local communities.

Feline watching tourism in South America: Conservation, sustainability and impacts in the Pantanal and Patagonia

Tourism for the observation of large cats, such as the jaguar in the Brazilian Pantanal and the puma in Chilean Patagonia, has emerged as a powerful tool to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable economic development. This article explores the opportunities and challenges associated with this form of tourism, highlighting best practices and strategies for maximizing benefits and mitigating negative impacts. The analysis reveals that big cat tourism can provide significant economic benefits to local communities, creating livelihoods and raising living standards. However, it is crucial to maintain a balance between economic benefits and ecological sustainability. Implementing capacity limits, strict regulations, and sustainable tourism practices are essential to prevent the degradation of natural habitats and animal stress. Tourism education plays a vital role in promoting responsible behaviors among visitors. Orientation programs and the presence of experienced guides help ensure that wildlife interactions are safe and informative. Additionally, collaborating with academic institutions to monitor and research the impact of tourism on feline populations and their habitats is critical for making informed decisions. The involvement of local communities is another critical aspect. Initiatives that ensure communities directly benefit from tourism strengthen local support for conservation efforts and create sustainable income streams. Habitat restoration projects and anti-poaching units, funded by tourism revenue, can promote ecological recovery and reduce threats to wildlife. Diversification of tourism activities is also recommended to distribute pressure on wildlife habitats and extend the stay of tourists. In addition to feline watching, cultural visits, ecological trails and other activities can promote conservation and environmental education. Jaguar and cougar sighting tourism presents a valuable opportunity to promote conservation and economic development. Adopting sustainable tourism practices, education, and community engagement are essential to ensure that this form of tourism continues to thrive, benefiting both wildlife and local communities.

Mapping the Future: Revealing Habitat Preferences and Patterns of the Endangered Chilean Dolphin in Seno Skyring, Patagonia.

Species distribution modeling helps understand how environmental factors influence species distribution, creating profiles to predict presence in unexplored areas and assess ecological impacts. This study examined the habitat use and population ecology of the Chilean dolphin in Seno Skyring, Chilean Patagonia. We used three models-random forest (RF), generalized linear model (GLM), and artificial neural network (ANN)-to predict dolphin distribution based on environmental and biotic data like water temperature, salinity, and fish farm density. Our research has determined that the RF model is the most precise tool for predicting the habitat preferences of Chilean dolphins. The results indicate that these dolphins are primarily located within six kilometers of the coast, strongly correlating with areas featuring numerous fish farms, sheltered waters close to the shore with river inputs, and shallow productive zones. This suggests a potential association between dolphin presence and fish-farming activities. These findings can guide targeted conservation measures, such as regulating fish-farming practices and protecting vital coastal areas to improve the survival prospects of the Chilean dolphin. Given the extensive fish-farming industry in Chile, this research highlights the need for greater knowledge and comprehensive conservation efforts to ensure the species' long-term survival. By understanding and mitigating the impacts of fish farming and other human activities, we can better protect the habitat and well-being of Chilean dolphins.

Old-growth mapping in Patagonia’s evergreen forests must integrate GEDI data to overcome NFI data limitations and to effectively support biodiversity conservation

Structural metrics from the NASA Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) are vital to support monitoring, restoration and protection of high biodiversity spots. The Chilean Patagonia is home of pristine and unique ecosystems where GEDI data can provide knowledge on structure and biomass and expand the current limitation in Patagonia on field measurements and open lidar data. Conservation efforts are ramping up across our study area in the Aysén Region. Ongoing and future conservation efforts precise from unbiased estimates of forest carbon stocks to value and to protect forest biodiversity. We evaluate GEDI structural metrics and biomass estimates in the evergreen forests of the Chilean Patagonia using National Forest Inventory (NFI) data and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) lidar mapping to assess aboveground biomass density (AGBD) across six conservation projects. Estimates from GEDI ranged between 186 and 255 Mg ha-1. Both AGBD distributions for NFI plots and the gridded map were similarly centered as both converged in the median value (100 Mg ha-1). However, the NFI gridded map turned asymptotic after 200 Mg ha-1, showing the lack of representation in the NFI sampling of dense high-C forests, whereas GEDI estimates were able to sense these areas of old-growth forests. The distribution of GEDI tracks, the scale extension of the projects and the available NFI information explained the differences between using GEDI samples and the NFIcalibrated solution using UAV-lidar. Our results showed the limitations of the Chilean NFI over steep locations and uplands where old-growth forests dominate, and where only GEDI can depict structural metrics and reliable estimates of ADGB and forest carbon. This study is highly relevant to support conservation projects in Patagonia using publicly available GEDI data science, and to enforce ambitious legislation in Chile designed to protect biodiversity and for which quantification, reporting and verification of forest carbon stocks is crucial.

Effect of pruning intensity on biomass and essential oil yield in wild paramela (Adesmia boronioides Hook f.)

Adesmia boronioides Hook. f. (known as paramela), a member of the Fabaceae family, is native to Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia. Its leaves and young stems are used in the traditional health care system of these countries to treat rheumatic pains, colds, digestive disorders, and respiratory congestion. Paramela presents excellent organoleptic qualities and is attracting growing commercial interest. In recent years the gathering of plant material from natural populations for the extraction and export of essential oils has increased; however, no studies exist on harvest management for this species. In this study plants from a natural A. boronioides population underwent three different pruning treatments (light, medium and heavy) and their response in biomass production and the yield and quality of their essential oils was evaluated over four consecutive years. Of the different pruning intensities, the medium level generated the greatest amount of biomass for all years (p< 0.001) even though the increase seen in production up to the third harvest was followed by a marked decrease. By applying a medium pruning level for two consecutive years on the same plants, we achieved up to 112 % more biomass and 116 % higher essential oil yield compared to the initial pruning. Under the heavy pruning treatment 10 % of the plants died after the second consecutive pruning. Furthermore, we compared the yield and qualitative characteristics of essential oils (EO) over the first three years under the medium pruning level. We observed that EO yields increased after successive pruning, but the chemical compositions (GC-FID-MS) were not significantly affected in the years evaluated. These results provide valuable information for the design of sustainable harvesting protocols for A. boronioides and indicate ways to improve the yield in biomass and essential oils from wild populations.

Social conflicts over the use of water resources in Chile: the role of social movements and business power

ABSTRACT This paper explores conflicts in contemporary Chile between local communities and economic elites over water resources usage, developing a frameworkthat seeks to bridge the gap between the literature on social movements and the scholarly work on business politics. It examines two similar cases. The first case deals with the conflict between large avocado producers and the rural community of Petorca, Central Chile, which has meant water deprivation for the aggrieved community. In the second case, the local community of Aysén, in Chilean Patagonia, successfully challenged business interests by halting a mega-hydroelectric project. We found that local communities can prevail when at least three conditions are met. First, the formation of a broad contingent coalition. Second, the elaboration of collective action frames to mobilise new constituencies. Third, the capacity to forge alliances with elite actors, which enhances the movement’s potential to engage in collective action.

Freshwater discharge drives latitudinal changes of phytoplankton composition on the continental shelf off Chilean Patagonia

A high-resolution survey of distribution, abundance and composition of phytoplankton was carried out for the first time in surface waters of the continental shelf off Chilean Patagonia (41–48°S). An Imaging FlowCytobot was used along the survey track to record phytoplankton in the size range of 10–120 μm during the austral spring of 2018. Phytoplankton community structure was complemented with continuous underway measurements of temperature and salinity, and physicochemical parameters of the water column at 35 oceanographic stations. Our results evidenced two main macrozones with distinctive phytoplankton assemblages delimited latitudinally at ~45°S. The northern macrozone was characterized by higher surface temperature and salinity, Si:N ratio > 1, diatoms of the genera Thalassiosira and Chaetoceros, and dinoflagellates accounting for over 70% of the total abundance. The southern macrozone, with lower surface temperature and salinity and Si:N ratio < 1, was characterized by members of the genera Guinardia, Lauderia and Cerataulina, representing over 60% of the total phytoplankton. These changes were attributable to the strong influence of freshwater at latitudes higher than 45°S and the enhanced discharge of meltwaters from Patagonian icefields in the area of the Taitao Peninsula and the Gulf of Penas (47–-48°S). Fresh and cold waters impacted the water column stratification and the availability of dissolved silicic acid with potential effects on phytoplankton composition and diatom cell silicification and, thus, on carbon exportation. Our estimations of phytoplankton carbon were comparable to those observed in Patagonian fjords and the highly productive upwelling ecosystem of central Chile. We suggest that the continental shelf off Patagonia can contribute significantly to strengthen the biological carbon pump through the synthesis, exportation, and sequestration of phytoplankton-based organic carbon in the southeastern Pacific Ocean.

Identification of bacteria in potential mutualism with toxic Alexandrium catenella in Chilean Patagonian fjords by in vitro and field monitoring.

The dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella is a well-known paralytic shellfish toxin producer that forms harmful algal blooms, repeatedly causing damage to Chilean coastal waters. The causes and behavior of algal blooms are complex and vary across different regions. As bacterial interactions with algal species are increasingly recognized as a key factor driving algal blooms, the present study identifies several bacterial candidates potentially associated with Chilean Alexandrium catenella. This research narrowed down the selection of bacteria from the Chilean A. catenella culture using antibiotic treatment and 16S rRNA metabarcoding analysis. Subsequently, seawater from two Chilean coastal stations, Isla Julia and Isla San Pedro, was monitored for two years to detect Alexandrium species and the selected bacteria, utilizing 16S and 18S rRNA gene metabarcoding analyses. The results suggested a potential association between Alexandrium species and Spongiibacteraceae at both stations. The proposed candidate bacteria within the Spongiibacteraceae family, potentially engaging in mutualistic relationships with Alexandrium species, included the genus of BD1-7 clade, Spongiibbacter, and Zhongshania.

The K/Pg event at high southern latitudes: New evidence from continental deposits in the Magallanes/Austral Basin, Patagonia, South America

The Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary (K/Pg) event, associated with a meteorite impact at Chicxulub, Mexico, is globally recognized as one of the largest mass extinctions in natural history, marking the end of the Mesozoic Era. However, most of the outcrops with records and geochemical evidence of this boundary are distributed in the Northern Hemisphere and at mid-latitudes. Here, aiming to contribute to the knowledge of this event at high southern latitudes, we characterize a single iridium anomaly correlated with the K/Pg boundary, present within a carbonaceous mudstone level in a continental depositional environment in the Río de las Chinas Valley, Chilean Patagonia. High-resolution geochemical and palynofacies analyses were performed on a stratigraphic section from the top of the Dorotea Formation. Results showed that the iridium enrichment coincides with an anomaly of other platinum group elements. In addition, the palynofacies analysis showed a disturbance in the depositional environment, marked by an abrupt change from non-degraded phytoclasts (e.g., cuticles) to pseudoamorphous and degraded cuticles, and by an increase in the abundance of spores at the same level. The Río de las Chinas Valley locality provides new evidence for the comprehensive study of the end-Cretaceous event, from the poorly represented continental environments of high southern latitudes.

A new species of genus Urophonius Pocock, 1893 (Scorpiones, Bothriuridae), from Andean Mauline Chilean forests, with a phylogenetic re-analysis of the genus

Urophonius trewankesp. nov. is described from the Mauline Andean woods of northern Chilean Patagonia. This species belongs to the granulatus species group, which includes the most basal species within the genus. This species is only active in summer as in all species of its group. We performed a phylogenetic analysis of the genus Urophonius based on morphological characters to establish the position and relationships of the new species in the genus.