The hard-bottom intertidal communities before and after removal of an anthropogenic disturbance: A case study in the coast of Puerto Madryn (Patagonia, Argentina)

In spite of the marked growth of the coastal cities in Patagonia, studies on the effects of the urban development upon marine intertidal communities are scarce. We evaluated the rocky-shore intertidal community composition during (June 1998) and after (June 2005) exposure to a sewage discharge which was eliminated in 2001. A perturbed environment and a control site were analyzed. No significant differences were detected in species richness between sites and years. However, the species composition was different between sites in 1998 and similar in 2005. These results suggest the use of combined indicators in diagnostic studies on stressed environments.Fil: Torres, Américo Iadran. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Caille, Guillermo Martín. Fundación Patagonia Natural; Argentin

First report on a pupping area of the tope shark Galeorhinus galeus (Carcharhiniformes, Triakidae) in the south-west Atlantic

Neonates of the tope shark Galeorhinus galeus are captured in sport and recreational coastal fisheries from January to April each year in Engaño Bay (42° 58′–43° 41′ S), Chubut, Argentina. The presence of these neonates is the first evidence of a pupping area for this shark in the south-west Atlantic Ocean. Knowledge of the pupping areas of chondrichthyans is important for establishing conservation measures and appropriate fishing regulations.Fil: Bovcon, Nelson Darío. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Trelew. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Hidrobiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Cochia, Pablo D.. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Trelew. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Hidrobiología; ArgentinaFil: Navoa, Ximena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Trelew. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Hidrobiología; ArgentinaFil: Ledesma, Pablo Jeronimo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Trelew. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Hidrobiología; ArgentinaFil: Caille, Guillermo Martín. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Trelew. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Hidrobiología; ArgentinaFil: Baigún, Claudio Rafael M.. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; Argentin

Seabird mortality at trawler warp cables and a proposed mitigation measure: A case of study in Golfo San Jorge, Patagonia, Argentina

We studied the interaction between seabirds and warp cables in the high-seas Argentine hake Merluccius hubbsi trawl fishery operating in Golfo San Jorge, Argentina, and tested the efficacy of a simple mitigation measure designed to reduce mortality at warp cables. Observations were made onboard hake trawlers during the height of the fishing season, between December 2004 and April 2005. Thirteen seabird species used food made available by fishing operations. The most frequent and abundant seabirds (% occurrence, mean maximum number per haul) were the Kelp gull Larus dominicanus (98.1%, 348.5) and the Black-browed albatross Thalassarche melanophrys (96.1%, 132.2). Contacts with warp cables were recorded for six species in 81.4% of hauls, with a mean number of contacts per haul of 14.4 ± 23.8 (range = 0-127). A total of 53 individuals were killed due to interactions with nets and cables, resulting in a total cable mortality rate of 0.14 birds/haul. Considering the fishery’s fishing effort, the estimated total number of birds killed during the study was 2703 (CV = 0.8), of which 306 (CV = 0.9) were killed due to contacts with warp cables (255 Kelp gulls and 51 Black-browed albatross). The tested device consisted of a plastic cone attached to each warp cable. In hauls with mitigation device, the number of contacts was reduced by 89% and no seabirds were killed. Mean distances between seabirds and cables were significantly larger in hauls with than without mitigation device (2.6 vs 0.9 meters). The proposed device could be easily applied in this and other trawl fisheries operating in Argentine waters. Increased effort should be placed in implementing mitigation measures and the monitoring of cable related mortality associated to high-seas trawlers operating in the Argentine Continental Shelf.Fil: Gonzalez Zevallos, Diego Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Yorio, Pablo Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina. Wildlife Conservation Society; Estados UnidosFil: Caille, Guillermo Martín. Fundacion Patagonia Natural; Argentin

Demographic structure of broadnose seven-gill shark, Notorynchus cepedianus, caught by anglers in southern Patagonia, Argentina

Between 2004 and 2007, tournament editions and the recreational fishery for the broadnose seven-gill shark, Notorynchus cepedianus, were monitored in Natural Reserves of Rı´a Deseado (RD, a breeding area for the Patagonian smooth hound) and Peninsula de San Julian (SJ), southern Patagonia, Argentina. Sharks’ catch composition by sex; total length (TL) and weight (W) were recorded. Reproductive status was assessed from the literature. Juvenile females dominated the catches in both areas during the 4-year period.Fil: Cedrola, Paula V.. Fundación Patagonia Natural Marcos Zar ; ArgentinaFil: Caille, Guillermo Martín. Fundación Patagonia Natural Marcos Zar ; ArgentinaFil: Chiaramonte, Gustavo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Pettovello, Alejandro D.. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; Argentin

Conservación de la Diversidad Biológica en la Zona Costera de la Patagonia Argentina

En este capítulo se presenta el estado de situación de las áreas costeras protegidas y especies amenazadas del litoral Patagónico argentino. Se analizan además las principales amenazas a la diversidad biológica en la región costera, incluyendo una síntesis de los efectos de las actividad es humanas y de iniciativas en marcha para mitigar los problemas existentes. Finalmente, se discuten consideraciones relevantes a tener en cuenta para fortalecer las futuras acciones y desarrollar estrategias para la conservación de la diversidad biológica a largo plazo.Fil: Yorio, Pablo Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina. Wildlife Conservation Society; Estados UnidosFil: Caille, Guillermo Martín. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; ArgentinaFil: Schwindt, Evangelina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Tagliorette, Alicia. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral; Argentina. Fundacion Patagonia Natural; ArgentinaFil: Esteves, Jose Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina. Fundacion Patagonia Natural; ArgentinaFil: Crespo, Enrique Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Arias, Alejandro M.. Fundación Vida Silvestre; ArgentinaFil: Harris, Guillermo. Wildlife Conservation Society; Estados Unidos. Fundacion Patagonia Natural; Argentin