We present a summary of the initial findings regarding the foraging patterns of southern ele-phant seals (Mirounga leonina) departing from the small, nascent colony of Jackson Bay, Tierra del Fuego, Chile. Eight juvenile males were sat-ellite tracked while foraging at sea; four of them yielded complete tracks of their trips. The study highlights the importance of both the inland waters in the Chilean fjords and the pelagic waters off the coast deeper than 200 m as preferred foraging areas. Southern elephant seals utilizing the fjords also undertook extensive excursions into the SE Pacific, up to 600 km offshore. In open waters, the study animals engaged in extended loops lasting up to 30 days and covering 2,580 km of horizontal travel, characterized by few focal areas of activity. A comparison with individuals from the Peninsula Vald & eacute;s colony in Argentina under-scores connectivity between colonies and identi-fies the Strait of Magellan and the Drake Passage as important corridors for southern elephant seal foraging migrations. Overall, high individual vari-ability precludes identifying a dominant strategy for the Jackson Bay southern elephant seals, at least during this early stage of recolonization of the species' historical range.

A small colony of black-browed albatrosses (Thalassarche melanophris, 21–65 breeding pairs) was discovered in 2003 on Albatross Islet, Tierra del Fuego, Chile. The formation of new breeding sites is important from an ecological and evolutionary perspective. This colony is particularly significant because it is the only one recorded for the species in a land-locked area. As its population dynamics could be shaped by stochastic and other factors affecting small populations, understanding the variables influencing its persistence, such as source of breeders, is crucial. Here, we used genetic markers (mitochondrial control region) to determine the origin of individuals at this new breeding site. Our results show that the new colony is an even mix of birds from Chilean colonies to the south and west (52

The breeding season is the most vulnerable period in the early stages of the life cycle of seabirds, due to the exposure of their eggs and chicks to the impact by predators. Most of the studies on predator–prey relationships between the Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys) and other predators like raptors, were carried out in breeding colonies located in oceanic and highly isolated areas, such as Antarctic islands. However, breeding colonies located in the Sub-Antarctic fjords have not been studied. The geographical position of the study colony makes it susceptible to a wider spectrum of predators than the oceanic islands. Therefore, it is unknown how predation dynamics affect the reproductive success of this species. Here, we show for the first time the identity and activity of avian native predators on the colony in the inner waters of southern Tierra del Fuego, Chile. This study covered seventeen field visits between 2017 and 2020 to monitor the reproductive activity of this colony. In this study, we identified the interaction between predators, the breeding activity and success of albatrosses using direct census and camera traps. Across the study, the number of breeding pairs ranged from 64 (2017) to three (2019) breeding pairs of the Black-browed albatross. Terrestrial birds with occurrence on the colony were the Andean condor, Southern caracara, Chimango caracara and the Turkey vulture. Our results showed that the main avian predator species affecting the breeding success of the Black-browed albatross, were both the Andean condor and the Southern caracara. The Black-browed albatross is a conservation target in this area since of the colony of Islote Albatros is currently part of the Seno Almirantazgo Marine protected area. Therefore, baseline informations on species interactions are fundamental for its management particularly when native predators like the Andean condor are also threatened species globally.

Entre las especies de mamíferos con hábitos semiacuáticos presentes en Chile se encuentran dos mustélidos nativos, el chungungo (Lontra felina) y el huillín (Lontra provocax). Asimismo, han sido introducidos dos mamíferos semiacuáticos exóticos e invasores en el país, el visón americano (Neovison vison) y el castor americano (Castor canadensis). Estas últimas especies son ampliamente reconocidas por los efectos negativos que provocan sobre los ecosistemas y las especies nativas. Si bien todas estas especies incluyen en su distribución más austral al archipiélago de Tierra del Fuego, en la región de Magallanes, existen pocos antecedentes documentados sistemáticamente sobre su presencia en canales interiores. En este estudio se describe la presencia de mamíferos semiacuáticos mediante el monitoreo con cámaras trampa en el Islote Albatros, en el Seno Almirantazgo entre las temporadas estivales 2016 – 2017 y 2021 – 2022, con esfuerzos de muestreo (EM) que variaron entre 499 durante la temporada 2018-2019 y 3.658 en 2020-2021. A partir de los registros obtenidos se calcularon los índices de abundancia relativa (IAR) para cada una de las especies registradas: visón americano (rango=0-8), huillín (rango=0,08 – 5) y castor americano (rango=0-0,144). Se destaca el primer registro de presencia de castor y huillín para el Islote Albatros, confirmándose además la reproducción de esta última especie en este. Estos hallazgos resultan de gran relevancia en el contexto de los objetos de conservación del Área Marina Costera Protegida de Múltiples Usos (AMCP-MU) Seno Almirantazgo, pues son un aporte clave para la toma de decisiones informada y el manejo efectivo de esta área protegida. También resaltan la importancia de implementar y sostener esfuerzos de monitoreo sistemáticos tanto de los objetos de conservación del área como de las amenazas que enfrentan.

Hydatid disease is a neglected zoonotic parasitic disease caused by cysts of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. Canids, especially domestic dogs, are definitive hosts of the parasite and are the most pragmatic targets for control programs. A governmental dog deworming campaign was established in 1979 to control hydatidosis in southern Chile, which succeeded in reducing the prevalence of canine echinococcosis in Tierra del Fuego province from 68.4% (in 1978) to 1.2% (in 2002). In 2004, however, the program was dismantled to reduce costs, and since then, no follow-up echinococcosis monitoring has been conducted. We surveyed 356 domestic dogs and interviewed owners or workers at 45 ranches in Chilean Tierra del Fuego during the summer of 2015-2016. Faecal flotation was employed to detect Taeniidae eggs, and PCR was used to test faecal samples for Echinococcus granulosus. Taeniidae eggs and Echinococcus sp. DNA were detected in the faeces of 45.4% (147/324) and 6.9% (23/331) of dogs, respectively. Infrequent dog deworming and the presence of culpeo foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus) were significant predictors of the prevalence of Echinococcus sp. DNA and Taeniidae eggs. Furthermore, the presence of introduced chilla foxes (Lycalopex griseus), the municipality, and several operational characteristics of ranches (number of sheep, frequency of sheep slaughter, number of dogs, frequency of removal of dog faeces, feeding of dogs with sheep viscera) were also predictive of the prevalence of Taeniidae eggs. Our findings reveal an ongoing risk of echinococcosis with pathogen maintenance in ranch dogs in Chilean Tierra del Fuego, and in the absence of adequate control programmes, there is a tangible risk of re-emergence of hydatid disease as a public health concern.

Las colonias reproductivas de albatros de ceja negra (Thalassarche melanophris) se reconocen por su gran tamaño y presencia en islas oceánicas. Sin embargo, en el año 2003 se describe por primera vez la existencia de la única, y numéricamente pequeña, colonia reproductiva en aguas interiores de la Patagonia chilena ubicada en el islote Albatros (54°27’20’’S; 69°01’12’’W). A partir del año 2009, se inicia un estudio sistemático de esta colonia, visitando el área durante la temporada reproductiva para monitorear y evaluar su población. Se realizaron once expediciones entre los meses de octubre y febrero, durante los años 2009 y 2016, contabilizando la presencia de huevos y polluelos para determinar el éxito reproductivo de la colonia. Adicionalmente se anilló un total de 188 individuos a lo largo de 7 temporadas para determinar la tasa de recaptura durante estos años. A partir de estos monitoreos, se espera aportar nuevos antecedentes al conocimiento general sobre la pequeña colonia de albatros de ceja negra, única en el mundo ubicada en aguas interiores de la Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena

La conservación marina es un desafío complejo y su éxito está generalmente determinado por factores sociales. Consecuentemente, antes de promover la creación de áreas marinas protegidas (AMP), resulta necesario contemplar cuál es la visión de los diferentes actores sociales sobre las mismas, sus percepciones, intereses y expectativas, para minimizar conflictos y lograr el apoyo y la aceptación necesarios para su implementación y manejo efectivo. En este contexto, y en una etapa previa a la creación de un Área Marina Costera Protegida de Múltiples Usos (AMCP-MU) en el Seno Almirantazgo, evaluamos la percepción de pescadores artesanales de la región de Magallanes sobre la conservación de la biodiversidad, las AMP y el proyecto de creación de una nueva AMCP-MU. Se entrevistaron 35 pescadores en caletas de las ciudades de Porvenir, Punta Arenas y Puerto Natales. Los entrevistados demostraron conocimientos elementales sobre las temáticas tratadas que, en general, fueron obtenidas a través de diferentes fuentes y medios. El 43% de los entrevistados percibió a las AMP como zonas cerradas, destinadas a proteger especies y en donde las actividades humanas representan una amenaza para estas, mientras que un 23% indicó que no se trata de zonas necesariamente cerradas y que permiten la realización de ciertas actividades. Respecto a la creación de una AMCP-MU en el Seno Almirantazgo, el 68% de ellos mencionó que no debiera generar restricciones para el desarrollo de sus actividades, como así tampoco para las de otros actores (e.g. sector turístico). En cuanto a la percepción sobre los actores vinculados con la conservación de la biodiversidad en la región, un 54% de los pescadores mostró cierta aprensión frente a los servicios públicos, por su rol de regulación y fiscalización, mientras que el sector del turismo y de las organizaciones no gubernamentales fue visualizado más positivamente. Los resultados de este trabajo contribuyen al entendimiento de la dimensión humana de la conservación marina en Magallanes, resaltan la importancia de la comunicación para encontrar una base común de contacto entre actores con intereses y experiencias culturales diferentes, y brindan antecedentes para el proceso de creación e implementación de AMP.

The human population grows inexorably. When Charles Darwin explored the southern cone of South America in 1830, fewer than 1.2 billion people inhabited Earth. When Ehrlich'sPopulation Bombappeared in 1968, there were similar to 3.5 billion people. We approach eight billion today, and biospheric impacts do not abate. We have affected most life forms through climate modification, harvest, erasure and fragmentation of habitat, disease, and the casting of alien species. Given the lack of abatement in human population growth, herein we focus on the modalities of ecological disruption-direct and indirect-that mitigate the changing role of ungulates in landscapes. Much of what was once generally predictable in terms of pattern and process is no longer. Offshore climatic events have strong onshore consequences, as exemplified by toxic algal blooms in the Patagonian Pacific. These have diminished the harvest of fish and likely resulted in fishermen using dogs to hunt huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus), the most endangered large terrestrial mammal of the Western Hemisphere. Similarly, human economies foment change in the Himalayan realm and Gobi Desert by increasing the number of cashmere-producing goats, and where dogs that once followed tourists or guarded livestock now hunt a half-dozen threatened, endangered, and rare ungulates, including kiang (Equus kiang), chiru (Pantholops hodgsonii), saiga (Saiga tatarica), and takin (Budorcas taxicolor), spread disease, and displace snow leopards (Panthera uncia). In North America's Great Basin Desert, 100 years of intense livestock grazing created a phase shift by which changed plant communities enabled mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) colonization. An altered predator-prey system ensued with the arrival of pumas (Puma concolor). Patterns of resilience postulated byHolling (1973)become more difficult to witness in the absence of humans as our domination of Earth destabilizes systems beyond return points. These include ungulates both in and out of protected areas. Consequently, only messy projections of future community reorganization seem reasonable, whether related tofood websorassembly rulesthat once governed ungulate communities of the very recent past.

The huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) is an endangered cervid endemic to southern Argentina and Chile. Here we report foot lesions in 24 huemul from Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, Chile, between 2005 and 2010. Affected deer displayed variably severe clinical signs, including lameness and soft tissue swelling of the limbs proximal to the hoof or in the interdigital space, ulceration of the swollen tissues, and some developed severe proliferative tissue changes that caused various types of abnormal wear, entrapment, and/or displacement of the hooves and/or dewclaws. Animals showed signs of intense pain and reduced mobility followed by loss of body condition and recumbency, which often preceded death. The disease affected both genders and all age categories. Morbidity and mortality reached 80% and 40%, respectively. Diagnostics were restricted to a limited number of cases from which samples were available. Histology revealed severe papillomatous epidermal hyperplasia and superficial dermatitis. Electron microscopy identified viral particles consistent with viruses in the Chordopoxvirinae subfamily. The presence of parapoxvirus DNA was confirmed by a pan-poxvirus PCR assay, showing high identity (98%) with bovine papular stomatitis virus and pseudocowpoxvirus. This is the first report of foot disease in huemul deer in Chile, putatively attributed to poxvirus. Given the high morbidity and mortality observed, this virus might pose a considerable conservation threat to huemul deer in Chilean Patagonia. Moreover, this report highlights a need for improved monitoring of huemul populations and synergistic, rapid response efforts to adequately address disease events that threaten the species.

The eastern South Pacific southern elephant seal population was extinguished by extensive hunting and the current presence of this species in this area is not well understood. We reviewed existing records from the 1900s to 2014 in the eastern South Pacific, as well as tagged seals and movement records in order to assess the potential immigration source of these individuals. A total of 409 confirmed sightings were compiled, ranging from the southern tip of South America (Cape Horn Archipelago) as far north as Ecuador, including some oceanic island groups. The evidence shows also that recolonisation of its former Pacific distribution has started, with slow population growth in three incipient pupping sites in southern Chile (south of 51 degrees S). Although the source of all of the individuals in the growing colonies is unknown, evidence from tags and satellite tagging indicates that some seals come from subpopulations on the Peninsula Valdes and the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, although mtDNA analysis showed, preliminarily, a greater genetic relationship only with the Falkland/Malvinas Islands rookery.

Abstract Although Chile has been establishing marine protected areas since the 1960s, studies to identify representative areas for marine biodiversity conservation at the ecoregional scale are lacking. Using the Marxan decision support tool we conducted a systematic planning process to identify High Conservation Value Areas in the channels and fjords of the southern Chile ecoregion. We involved 74 experts and other stakeholders in identifying conservation features, setting targets and compiling distribution data. Current distributions of 39 features were used in Marxan analyses. In one scenario we locked planning units that contained the Francisco Coloane Marine Protected Area. In a second scenario we also excluded planning units that overlapped with Appropriate Areas for Aquaculture, defined by the Chilean government's coastal zoning process. One-hundred percent of the proposed conservation targets were met in both scenarios. Although the distribution of 12 conservation features overlapped to a certain extent (>10%) with Appropriate Areas for Aquaculture, Marxan identified conservation solutions avoiding these areas. Our suggested portfolio of High Conservation Value Areas comprises a network of 33 sites, covering 99,432 km2 (12% of the ecoregion). These results provide the first science-based roadmap for decision makers and conservationists, and were used by the Chilean government in its coastal zoning process to define priority areas for conservation. Consequently, salmon farming has been excluded from Tierra del Fuego island.

El Huemul, especie endemica de Chile y la Argentina, es el cervido mas amenazado de la Region Neotropical. El primer Plan Nacional de Conservacion de la especie se elaboro el ano 2001, dividiendo el trabajo segun territorios especificos. Dentro de este marco, en los anos 2010 y 2015 se realizaron dos talleres para la elaboracion del Plan de la Zona Austral en la Region de Magallanes. Para el ultimo de estos, se realizo una encuesta preliminar para establecer el estado de avance de las acciones propuestas en el 2010 y se aplico la metodologia de Estandares Abiertos para la Practica de la Conservacion para guiar el trabajo. Participaron 32 asistentes de 15 instituciones, que identificaron inconvenientes administrativos, financieros y de recursos humanos para avanzar en la conservacion del huemul. Se definio una meta especifica para el Plan de la Zona Austral y se priorizaron amenazas en el contexto regional, donde las mas relevantes relevantes resultaron ser la competencia con el ganado y la fragmentacion de habitat. Ademas, se esbozaron indicadores y los principales responsables para facilitar el monitoreo de la gestion del Plan de Accion. Abstract The Huemul, a species endemic to Chile and Argentina, is the most threatened cervid in the Neotropical Region. The first National Plan for the conservation of the species was developed in 2001 and divided the territory in different working zones. Within this framework, in 2010 and 2015 two workshops for the development of the Plan for Austral Zone Plan took place in the Region of Magallanes. For the last of them, a preliminary survey was conducted to establish the progress of the actions proposed in 2010 and the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation was applied as a methodology for guiding the work. . Thirty-two attendants from 15 institutions identified administrative, financial and human resources drawbacks to advance in Huemul conservation. A specific goal for the Austral Zone Plan was defined and threats were prioritized according to the regional context, where the most important threats identified were competition with livestock and habitat fragmentation. In addition, indicators and the main responsible for facilitating the monitoring of the management of the Action Plan were outlined.

Black-browed albatrosses are the most abundant albatross species of the southern hemisphere, breeding on sub-Antarctic and Antarctic oceanic islands around the globe. Their foraging habitat during the breeding season is reasonably well known along its distributional range, indicating a preferred use of waters <500 m deep. The discovery of a colony inserted within the Admiralty Sound, Tierra del Fuego, poses an interesting challenge to the known precepts on foraging behavior for the species. In this study, we present the first record on the foraging distribution of the only known inner-channel colony of albatrosses in the world, using high-resolution GPS loggers. Black-browed albatrosses breeding at the Albatross Islet used exclusively inner-channel waters, at least during the chick-guard stage. Our results indicate a significant smaller foraging range during chick-guard compared with conspecifics from Diego Ramirez and Falklands/Malvinas Islands. Implications for the conservation of this colony are discussed.

The aim of this study was to assess the huemul's (Hippocamelus bisulcus) seasonal habitat selection. The study was performed during 2003-2004 in Los Alerces National Reserve, Argentina. The huemul fresh signs were intensively sought and registered on transects distributed at random as evidence of habitat use. The transects were laid perpendicular to the contour lines, running continuously from low to high elevations. The sampling points were placed on each contour line to evaluate the availability of the vegetation types. We used a nonmapping technique and the Bonferroni confidence intervals to analyze the habitat selection on a seasonal basis. The huemul signs were found at elevations that varied significantly across the seasons. The seasonal distribution of the signs showed that during autumn and winter, the huemul selected the lenga (Nothofagus pumilio) forests and high shrublands, respectively, and the high-Andean vegetation in summer. The observed pattern of habitat selection reflects the movements from the high elevations in summer to the low elevations in winter. This pattern appeared to be influenced by food availability. The protection of the habitat, ranging from the low valleys to the mountain-top areas, and the actions to reduce human pressure in the low elevations appear critical for the conservation of the huemul populations.

AimOur aim was to determine the combined impacts of Pleistocene climatic oscillations and glacial periods with recognized biogeographical barriers on the evolutionary history of huemul deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus).LocationSouthern Chile and Argentina's Andean forest, and Patagonian fjords.MethodsWe examined the phylogeography of huemul using 772bp of the mitochondrial DNA control region sequence from 275 samples (29 locations) collected throughout the distributional range of the species. We grouped samples into clusters based on Bayesian genetic and spatial structure analyses and reconstructed the species' phylogeographical and demographic history.ResultsWe observed 63 haplotypes that grouped into three clusters (Central Chile, North Patagonia and South Patagonia). All but five haplotypes in North and South Patagonia were distributed locally. Bayesian skyline plots showed that population sizes remained fairly constant until an increase during and after the Last Glacial Maximum. Genetic diversity was generally low, except in three populations in the eastern Andes and on Wellington Island (Patagonian fjords).Main conclusionsOur results suggest that the biogeographical separation of huemul into phylogeographical groups has been heavily influenced by Pleistocene glacial stages, and more recently by habitat fragmentation and isolation. This provides the first evidence that the region west of the Cordilleran ice field was a refugium for at least one species of large mammal during the Pleistocene in southern South America. These results have direct implications for the conservation and management of this endangered deer species.

Abstract The conservation of threatened species poses many challenges but through cooperation and pooling of resources, individuals and organizations can work together to achieve better results. Here we describe our experience, working through a governmental and private alliance, studying one of the most threatened mammals in the Southern Cone. The huemul deer Hippocamelus bisulcus, one of two members of the Hippocamelus genus of South America, is endemic to Argentina and Chile and currently inhabits only a small fraction of its former range. Little is known about the huemul because it generally lives in remote areas with a harsh climate and rugged terrain. Using drive counts and fixed width transects over 5 consecutive years (2004–2008) we estimated density and abundance, and examined population changes and social structure, in three coastal huemul populations in the area of the Témpanos and Bernardo fjords of Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, Chile. Our results suggest that synergistic conservation actions, such as cattle removal and poaching control, can lead to the recovery of threatened huemul. The baseline information obtained from our surveys and the lessons learned through this governmental and private alliance will be useful for future monitoring of the huemul in the Patagonian fjords of Chile.