A review on coastal urban ecology: research gaps, challenges, and needs

Coastal urban areas have dramatically increased during the last decades, however, coastal research integrating the impacts and challenges facing urban areas is still scarce. To examine research advances and critical gaps, a review of the literature on coastal urban ecology was performed. Articles were selected following a structured decision tree and data were classified into study disciplines, approaches, type of analysis, main research objectives, and Pickett's paradigms in-, of-, and for- the city, among other categories. From a total of 237 publications, results show that most of the research comes from the USA, China, and Australia, and has been carried out mostly in large cities with populations between 1 and 5 million people. Focus has been placed on ecological studies, spatial and quantitative analysis and pollution in coastal urban areas. Most of the studies on urban ecology in coastal zones were developed at nearshore terrestrial environments and only 22.36% included the marine ecosystem. Urban ecological studies in coastal areas have mainly been carried out under the paradigm in the city with a focus on the disciplines of biology and ecology. Results suggest a series of disciplinary, geographical, and approach biases which can present a number of risks. Foremost among these is a lack of knowledge on social dimensions which can impact on sustainability. A key risk relates to the fact that lessons and recommendations of research are mainly from developed countries and large cities which might have different institutional, planning and cultural settings compared to developing and mid-income countries. Scientific research on coastal urban areas needs to diversify toward an ecology of and for the cities, in order to support coastal development in a diversity of countries and settings

Long term socio-ecological research of the three LTSER-Chile founder sites: challenges and opportunities for future research

This article presents an analysis of the research programs carried out in the three foundational sites of the Chilean Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research Network (LTSER-Chile) and presents the context in which these lines have been established

Wild floral visitors are more important than honeybees as pollinators of avocado crops

Wild insects provide pollination services in agroecosystems. Avocado is an economically important crop grown in the Chilean Mediterranean climate region and exported worldwide. Avocado pollination is managed using honeybee hives, while the role of wild insects as pollinators remains poorly known. We quantified the relative contributions of wild floral visitors and honeybees to the fruit set of avocados in two contrasting seasons (2015 and 2016) in Central Chile. Observations were made in 60 trees grown nearby (~300 m) to remnant patches of native sclerophyll vegetation. We found that honeybees and wild insects accounted for 48.6% and 51.4% of total floral visitation, respectively, with a 68% taxonomic similarity of floral visitors between seasons. The presence of honeybees significantly modulated the floral visitor composition and modified plant-pollination network parameters, which resulted in the biotic homogenization of the interaction network, through the increase of shared tree–floral visitor interactions, to the detriment of exclusive interactions. Finally, wild insects were more effective than honeybees in pollinating avocado trees and their contribution was greatest during the dry year. Thus, honeybees alone cannot be relied upon to deliver maximum pollination. We highlight ecological intensification practices to encourage wild insect visits and avoid native vegetation replacement with orchards. Therefore, we emphasize that future ecological intensification research should address agricultural practices to promote wild insects and evaluate the role of native vegetation as wild pollinator habitat in agricultural landscapes

Biotic homogenization in the availability of ornamental seeds of the native flora in Chile

Biotic homogenization is a global phenomenon, mainly in urban areas where exotic species are dominant, contributing to the loss of native biodiversity. Gardening native flora to promote local biodiversity is becoming a conservation practice in urban settings. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the representation of the Chilean native flora in the Chilean and international ornamental flower seed market to know which native plant seeds are sold. We found that native seed are absent in the local market and that the totality of seed supply in the market corresponds to species of exotic origin, mainly from the Palearctic region (43%). However, surprisingly, many Chilean flower seeds are traded in the international market (approximately 6% of the total Chilean flora). This lack of availability of native seeds for local consumers constitutes a bottleneck for ecological restoration initiatives. It is consistent with the greater abundance of exotic species in urban green areas and supports the hypothesis of biocultural homogenization

Genetic variability and structure of the Olive Field Mouse: a sigmodontine rodent in a biodiversity hotspot of southern Chile

The temperate rainforests of southern Chile, a recognized biodiversity hotspot, were significantly affected by Pleistocene glacial cycles in their southern portion and have been severely disrupted mainly due to recent human activities. Additionally, the landscape is characterized by a series of potential barriers to gene flow, such as the Chacao Channel, Cordillera de Piuche in Chiloé and both the Ancud and the Corcovado gulfs. We used mitochondrial DNA sequences and microsatellite data across several populations to evaluate the genetic variability and structure of the sigmodontine rodent Abrothrix olivacea brachiotis, one of the most common species of small mammals and an inhabitant of these biodiverse forests. Sequencing data showed that along with the recovery of high haplotype variation for this species, there was a low nucleotide diversity between haplotypes, showing no genetic differences between the Chiloé Island and continental populations in southern Chile or through any other geographic barrier in the study area. However, microsatellite data exhibited some level of population structuring. The most evident clusterings were those of the Chiloé Island and that of North Patagonia. These findings are corroborated by a barrier analysis that showed a genetic barrier in the latter areas, whereas the Chacao Channel was not a significant barrier for this rodent. Overall, the genetic variability and structure of A. o. brachiotis was concordant with historical factors, such as the Last Glacial Maximum and the presence of geographic elements that isolate populations

The role of insect pollinators in avocado production: a global review

Insect pollination increases the yield and quality of many crops and therefore, understanding the role of insect pollinators in crop production is necessary to sustainably increase yields. Avocado Persea americana benefits from insect pollination, however, a better understanding of the role of pollinators and their contribution to the production of this globally important crop is needed. In this study, we carried out a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of studies investigating the pollination ecology of avocado to answer the following questions: (a) Are there any research gaps in terms of geographic location or scientific focus? (b) What is the effect of insect pollinators on avocado pollination and production? (c) Which pollinators are the most abundant and effective and how does this vary across location? (d) How can insect pollination be improved for higher yields? (e) What are the current evidence gaps and what should be the focus of future research? Research from many regions of the globe has been published, however, results showed that there is limited information from key avocado producing countries such as Mexico and the Dominican Republic. In most studies, insects were shown to contribute greatly to pollination, fruit set and yield. Honeybees Apis mellifera were important pollinators in many regions due to their efficiency and high abundance, however, many wild pollinators also visited avocado flowers and were the most frequent visitors in over 50% of studies. This study also highlighted the effectiveness of stingless bees (Meliponini) and blow flies (Calliphoridae) as avocado pollinators although, for the majority of flower visitors, there is a lack of data on pollinator efficiency. For optimal yields, growers should ensure a sufficient abundance of pollinators in their orchards either through increasing honeybee hive density or, for a more sustainable approach, by managing wild pollinators through practices that protect or promote natural habitat

図書館組織図

The Microbiotheriid Dromiciops gliroides, also known as 'Monito del Monte', is considered to be a threatened species and the only living representative of this group of South American marsupials. During the last few years, several blood samples from specimens of 'Monito del Monte' captured at Chiloé island in Chile have been investigated for blood parasites. Inspection of blood smears detected a Hepatozoon species infecting red blood cells. The sequences of DNA fragments corresponding to small subunit ribosomal RNA gene revealed two parasitic lineages belonging to Hepatozoon genus. These parasite lineages showed a basal position with respect to Hepatozoon species infecting rodents, reptiles, and amphibians but are phylogenetically distinct from Hepatozoon species infecting the order Carnivora. In addition, the Hepatozoon lineages infecting D. gliroides are also different from those infecting other micro-mammals living in sympatry, as well as from some that have been described to infec

Progress in creating a joint research agenda that allows networked long-term socio-ecological research in southern South America : addressing crucial technological and human capacity gaps limiting its application in Chile and Argentina

Since 1980, more than 40 countries have implemented long-term ecological research (LTER) programs, which have shown their power to affect advances in basic science to understand the natural world at meaningful temporal and spatial scales and also help link research with socially relevant outcomes. Recently, a disciplinary paradigmatic shift has integrated the human dimensions of ecosystems, leading to a long-term socio-ecological research (LTSER) framework to address the world's current environmental challenges. A global gap in LTER/LTSER only exists in the latitudinal range of 40–60°S, corresponding to Argentina and Chile's temperate/sub-Antarctic biome. A team of Chilean, Argentine and US researchers has participated in an ongoing dialogue to define not only conceptual, but also practical barriers limiting LTER/LTSER in southern South America. We have found a number of existing long-term research sites and platforms throughout the region, but at the same time it has been concluded an agenda is needed to create and implement further training courses for students, postdoctoral fellows and young scientists, particularly in the areas of data and information management systems. Since LTER/LTSER efforts in Chile and Argentina are incipient, instituting such courses now will enhance human and technical capacity of the natural science and resource community to improve the collection, storage, analysis and dissemination of information in emerging LTER/LTSER platforms. In turn, having this capacity, as well as the ongoing formalization of LTER/LTSER programs at national levels, will allow the enhancement of crucial collaborations and comparisons between long-term research programs within the region and between hemispheres and continents. For Spanish version of the entire article, see Online Supporting Information (Appendix S1).Desde 1980, más de cuarenta países han implementado programas de Investigación Ecológica a Largo Plazo (LTER por sus siglas en inglés), los cuales han mostrado su capacidad para influir sobre los avances en las ciencias básicas que permiten entender el mundo natural en escalas temporales y espaciales significativas, y también ayudar a enfocar la investigación hacia estudios socialmente relevantes. Recientemente, gracias a un cambio de paradigma en la disciplina, se integró también la dimensión humana de los ecosistemas, llevándola a un marco conceptual de Investigación Socio-Ecológica a Largo Plazo (LTSER por sus siglas en inglés) para enfrentar los desafíos medio-ambientales del mundo actual. Existe un vacío global en LTER/LTSER en el rango latitudinal de 40–60°S, correspondiente a los biomas templados/subantárticos de Argentina y Chile. Un equipo de investigadores chilenos, argentinos y estadounidenses ha trabajado por varios años para definir cuáles son la barreras que actualmente limitan la creación de una Red de LTER/LTSER en el sur de Sudamérica, no solamente en términos conceptuales, sino también a nivel práctico. Existe un buen número de sitios de investigación a largo plazo en la región, pero también concluimos que es necesario crear e implementar más cursos de capacitación para estudiantes, investigadores post-doctorales y jóvenes científicos, particularmente en las áreas de sistemas de manejo de datos e información. Considerando que los esfuerzos LTER/LTSER en Chile y Argentina son incipientes, este tipo de cursos podría mejorar la capacidad humana y técnica en la comunidad de las ciencias y los recursos naturales, así como mejorar los procesos de recolección, almacenamiento, análisis y difusión de la información. A su vez, la formalización de cursos de programas LTER/LTSER a nivel nacional para adquirir dicha capacidad de manejo de la información, permitirá un fortalecimiento crucial de las colaboraciones y comparaciones entre programas de investigación a largo plazo dentro de la región, y entre hemisferios y continentes. La versión en castellano del artículo se encuentra disponible en forma digital como Online Supporting Information S1.Fil: Anderson, Chistopher B. University of North Texas. Department of Biological Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Celis-Diez, Juan Luis. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Escuela de Agronomía; ChileFil: Bond, Barbara J.H.G. Oregon State University. Andrews Forest Long-Term Ecological Research Site. Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society; Estados UnidosFil: Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Cientificas; ArgentinaFil: Little, Christian. Universidad Austral de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Evolución; Chile. Fundación Centro de los Bosques Nativos FORECOS; ChileFil: Armesto, Juan J. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Escuela de Agronomía; ChileFil: Ghersa, Claudio Marco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: Austin, Amy Theresa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: Schlichter, Tomas Miguel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Grupo de Ecología Forestal; ArgentinaFil: Lara, Antonio. Fundación Centro de los Bosques Nativos FORECOS; Chile. Universidad Austral de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Silvicultura; ChileFil: Carmona, Martin. Universidad de Chile. Instituto de Ecologıa y Biodiversidad; ChileFil: Chaneton, Enrique Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomia. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente; ArgentinaFil: Gutierrez, Julio R. Universidad de La Serena. Departamento de Biología. Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad. Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Aridas; ChileFil: Rozzi, Ricardo. Universidad de La Serena. Departamento de Biología. Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad; ChileFil: Vanderbilt, Kristin University of New Mexico. Department of Biology. Sevilleta Long-Term Ecological Research Site; Estados UnidosFil: Oyarce, Guillermo University of North Texas. Library and Information Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Fernandez, Roberto J. University of North Texas, Department of Biological Sciences; Estados Unido

Las razones de por qué Chile debe detener la importación del abejorro comercial Bombus terrestris (Linnaeus) y comenzar a controlarlo

The global pollination crisis is not only produced by loss of pollinators but also by their homogenization, both processes caused by humans. This crisis impacts the persistence of many native plants species worldwide. In this document we analyze the ecological impacts that warrant the prohibition of new income of commercial bumblebee, Bombus terrestris to Chile. This species is highly invasive, it has been banned in other countries, but in Chile its entry is allowed since 1997. Thousands of colonies and fertilized queens entered the country every year and expand throughout the rest of South America. We give eleven reasons to stop B. terrestris entry to Chile and start controlling it. We justify these reasons based on work done both in the country and outside of it. At the same time, through the conclusions, we mentioned what should be the steps to followed regarding the prohibition B. terrestris entry to Chile.La crisis mundial de polinización no solo es producida por la pérdida de polinizadores, sino también por su homogeneización, ambos procesos causados por el ser humano. En este documento analizamos los impactos ecológicos que justifi can la prohibición de nuevos ingresos del abejorro comercial Bombus terrestris a Chile. Esta especie es altamente invasiva y ha sido prohibida en otros países, pero en Chile se permite su ingreso desde 1997. Miles de colonias y reinas fertilizadas ingresan al país cada año y se expanden por el resto de Sudamérica. En este artículo entregamos once razones para detener los ingresos de B. terrestris a Chile y comenzar a controlarlo. Justifi camos estas razones en base al trabajo realizado tanto en el país como fuera de él. Al mismo tiempo, a través de las conclusiones, mencionamos cuáles deberían ser los pasos a seguir respecto a la prohibición de ingreso de B. terrestris a Chile

Senda Darwin Biological Station: Long-term ecological research at the interface between science and society

Indexación: Web of Science; Scielo.La Estación Biológica Senda Darwin (EBSD) constituye un centro de investigación inmerso en el paisaje rural del norte de la Isla de Chiloé (42º S), donde fragmentos del bosque siempreverde original coexisten con praderas de uso ganadero, turberas de Sphagnum, matorrales sucesionales, plantaciones de Eucalyptus y otras formaciones de origen antropogénico. Desde 1994 hemos realizado estudios de largo plazo centrados en algunas especies de plantas (e.g., Pilgerodendron uviferum D. Don) y animales (e.g., Aphrastura spinicauda Gmelin, Dromiciops gliroides [Thomas]) catalogados como amenazados o escasamente conocidos y en ecosistemas nativos de importancia regional y global (e.g., turberas de Sphagnum, bosque Valdiviano y Nordpatagónico). Las investigaciones han considerado las respuestas de las especies y de los ecosistemas frente al cambio antropogénico del paisaje y cambio climático, así como los efectos de diferentes formas de manejo. Este escenario es semejante al de otras regiones de Chile y Latinoamérica lo que da generalidad a nuestros resultados y modelos. En este período, investigadores asociados a la EBSD han producido más de un centenar de publicaciones en revistas nacionales e internacionales y 30 tesis de pre y postgrado. Entendiendo el papel clave de los seres humanos en los procesos ecológicos de la zona rural, la EBSD ha desarrollado un programa de educación ecológica y vinculación del avance científico con la sociedad local y nacional. La integración de la EBSD a la naciente red de Sitios de Estudios Socio-Ecológicos de Largo Plazo en Chile consolidará y fortalecerá la investigación básica y aplicada que realizamos para proyectarla hacia la siguiente década.Senda Darwin Biological Station (SDBS) is a field research center immersed in the rural landscape of northern Chiloé island (42º S), where remnant patches of the original evergreen forests coexist with open pastures, secondary successional shrublands, Sphagnum bogs, Eucalyptus plantations and other anthropogenic cover types, constituting an agricultural frontier similar to other regions in Chile and Latin America. Since 1994, we have conducted long-term research on selected species of plants (e.g., Pilgerodendron uviferum) and animals (e.g., Aphrastura spinicauda, Dromiciops glirioides) that are considered threatened, poorly known or important for their ecological functions in local ecosystems, and on ecosystems of regional and global relevance (e.g., Sphagnum bogs, North Patagonian and Valdivian rain forests). Research has assessed the responses of species and ecosystems to anthropogenic land-use change, climate change, and the impact of management. During this period, more than 100 scientific publications in national and international journals, and 30 theses (graduate and undergraduate) have been produced by scientists and students associated with SDBS. Because of our understanding of the key role that humans play in ecological processes at this agricultural frontier, since the establishment of SDBS we have been committed to creative research on the communication of science to society and ecological education. The integration of SDBS to the nascent Chilean network of long-term socio-ecological research will consolidate and strengthen basic and applied research to project our work into the next decade.http://ref.scielo.org/vbm4r