Sumergidos con lupa en los ríos del cabo de hornos: Valoración ética de los ecosistemas dulceacuícolas y sus co-habitantes

Abstract

The Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve (CHBR), is the largest one in Chile, and the only one that integrates marine and terrestrial ecosystems. It includes three national parks (NP): Cape Horn NP, Alberto de Agostini NP, and Yendegaia NP. The CHBR, is immersed within the Magellanic sub-Antarctic ecoregion, which has been identified as one of the last pristine areas left in the world. Nonetheless, it is not free from local and global threats, such as invasive exotic species, climate change, massive tourism and other economic activities that do not value biological and cultural diversity. To contribute towards an appreciation of the values of biocultural diversity, the scientific team at Omora Park (Navarino Island, 55°S), has developed the Field Environmental Philosophy (FEP) methodological approach, which integrates ecological sciences, arts, and environmental ethics through four interrelated steps: 1) interdisciplinary research, 2) poetic communication through the composition of metaphors, 3) design of field activities with an ethical and ecological orientation, and 4) in situ conservation, to contribute to biocultural conservation. We present the methods and results of a multidisciplinary work focused on invertebrates and freshwater ecosystems of the CHBR, with the aim to contribute: a) to a better understanding of the possible responses of aquatic insects to climate change in the long-term, and b) generate tools for research and education to ecologically and ethically value freshwater invertebrates and ecosystems. The conceptual foundations are based on the Land Ethics of Aldo Leopold, and the biocultural ethics of Ricardo Rozzi. Through the praxis of the FEP we generate concrete actions for the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage. Finally, we propose new research methodologies that include valuing of the invertebrates' lives. FEP provides a methodology that contributes towards the transformation of the prevalent way in which global society understands, values and relates to freshwater ecosystems and their co-inhabitants, fostering more respectful and sustainable life habits in the short and long term.

Distribution and Habitat Preferences of the Newly Rediscovered Telmatogeton magellanicus (Jacobs, 1900) (Diptera: Chironomidae) on Navarino Island, Chile

“…At each transect, we randomly selected one area to deploy a 60 cm × 60 cm quadrat (sub-divided into 5 × 5 sub-quadrats—25 squares in total) at each of three tidal heights (low tide, mid tide and high tide) ( Figure 4 ). The tide levels were determined by a combination of two factors: (i) recording the water level at high and low tide as predicted from average levels taken from tide tables [ 52 ]; and (ii) biological composition, as defined by Contador et al [ 4 ]. Thus, we defined the high-tide level as the area between 2.5 m down to where molluscs (mainly bivalves) start to occur in abundance (around 1.5 m) and the mid tide from ~1.5 m to ~0.8 m, which is where the low-tide zone started with the presence of cirriped crustaceans and coralline algae.…”

“…The Magellanic region of Tierra del Fuego is not strictly considered to be part of the sub-Antarctic [ 1 , 2 ], which is defined by the almost complete absence of true terrestrial vertebrates and woody plants. However, because it shares many climatic and environmental features with this region, it is often referred to as the Magellanic sub-Antarctic [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. The Magellanic region is still largely unexplored, with recorded biodiversity increasing mainly through the discovery of cryptic species and the activity of new research projects working in little-studied areas [ 2 ].…”

“…The Magellanic region is still largely unexplored, with recorded biodiversity increasing mainly through the discovery of cryptic species and the activity of new research projects working in little-studied areas [ 2 ]. A major component of the plant life is endemic to the region [ 3 , 4 , 5 ], which is likely to have specific suites of associated invertebrates. There are no published syntheses of the invertebrate fauna of the region, either aquatic or terrestrial, although several authors have described endemic species of the latter: Coleoptera [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ], Hymenoptera [ 13 ], Lepidoptera [ 14 ] and Neuroptera [ 15 ].…”

Comunidades de invertebrados terrestres del archipiélago Diego Ramírez (56°31’S), el sitio de estudios ecológicos de largo plazo más austral de américa: Diversidad y afinidades con las islas subantárticas del océano austral

“…Por último, el presente estudio aporta al desarrollo y fortalecimiento de la Red de Monitoreo Ecológico de Largo Plazo Cabo de Hornos, inaugurando el sitio en la isla Gonzalo, como el más austral de la red (Rozzi et al 2017). El monitoreo continuo de las variables climáticas y los censos de la flora y fauna presente en el archipiélago Diego Ramírez son fundamentales para proveer una línea de base para el monitoreo a largo plazo que permita detectar, y eventualmente mitigar, los impactos del cambio socio-ambiental global sobre la biodiversidad en estos frágiles ecosistemas (Contador et al 2015(Contador et al , 2018Rendoll et al 2019). El nuevo sitio de monitoreo contribuirá directamente a llenar un "punto ciego" en nuestro conocimiento actual en cuanto a los efectos del cambio climático en los ecosistemas subantárticos y antárticos, generando información esencial para su conservación en el corto, mediano y largo plazo (Rozzi et al 2020, en este volumen…”

Un centinela para el monitoreo del cambio climático y su impacto sobre la biodiversidad en la cumbre austral de América: La nueva red de estudios a largo Plazo Cabo de Hornos

“…Para contribuir al conocimiento y valoración de Cabo de Hornos como patrimonio natural subantártico y consolidarlo como un sitio centinela para monitoreo del cambio climático global, el año 1999 impulsamos el desarrollo de un programa de largo plazo de actividades de ciencia y educación (Rozzi et al 2006b;Contador et al 2015Contador et al , 2018. En el año 2000, establecimos el Parque Etnobotánico Omora, en Puerto Williams, y el Programa de Conservación Biocultural Subantártica (Programa CBS) con el objetivo de vincular escalas locales, regionales, nacionales y globales en investigación, educación y conservación .…”