Categorización del estado de conservación de las tortugas de la República Argentina

Con la participación de nueve especialistas de diferentes instituciones de Argentina y transcurridos más de 10 años desde la primera Lista Roja de la herpetofauna de la República Argentina realizada por la Asociación Herpetológica Argentina en el año 2000, se re-categorizaron los taxones de Testudines presentes en el país incorporando nueva información taxonómica, biológica y ecológica y, aplicando correcciones metodológicas. Como resultado, de los 14 taxones de tortugas continentales y marinas, nueve quedaron incluidas en la presente Lista Roja bajo algún grado de amenaza, tres En Peligro, tres Amenazadas y tres Vulnerables, mientras que dos fueron categorizadas como No Amenazadas y tres son Insuficientemente Conocidas. En la evaluación de las tres especies de tortugas marinas, que frecuentan las costas del Mar Argentino, se homologaron las categorías con las de IUCN (2011). Respecto de la categorización anterior, se agregó la especie Phrynops geoffranus (Insuficientemente Conocida), se sinonimizaron dos especies, disminuyó el número de especies En Peligro de tres a dos y se incrementó el de Vulnerables de una a tres. Los pocos cambios resultantes de la presente categorización de las tortugas de Argentina respecto de la anterior podría reflejar la escasez de estudios realizados sobre este grupo en la última década y la necesidad de promoverlos.Through the participation of nine specialists from different institutions from all over Argentina and after more than a decade from the first Red List of threatened herpetofauna proposed by Asociación Herpetológica Argentina in 2000, we assessed the conservation status of the argentine Testudines taxa, adding the new taxonomic, biological and ecological knowledge progresses made since then as well as applying methodological changes in the former assessment. As a result from the 14 turtles taxa recognized as present in Argentina, nine were included in the actual Red List under some degree of risk (three Critically Endangered, three Endangered, three Vulnerable). From the remaining ones, three were classified as Insufficiently Known and two as Not Threatened. In the classification of the three marine turtles that are frequently found in argentine coasts we adopted the IUCN (2011) Red List criteria. In relation with the former categorization, we included a new species registered in Argentina (Phrynops geoffranus, Insufficiently Known), added two synonymies, increased from one to three the species within the Vulnerable Category and decreased from three to two the Critically Endangered species number. The few changes between the two assessments of the argentine turtle´s conservation status are due to the scarcity of new scientific contributions made to the knowledge of this group in the last decade.Asociación Herpetológica Argentina (AHA

Atlantic Leatherback Migratory Paths and Temporary Residence Areas

BACKGROUND: Sea turtles are long-distance migrants with considerable behavioural plasticity in terms of migratory patterns, habitat use and foraging sites within and among populations. However, for the most widely migrating turtle, the leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea, studies combining data from individuals of different populations are uncommon. Such studies are however critical to better understand intra- and inter-population variability and take it into account in the implementation of conservation strategies of this critically endangered species. Here, we investigated the movements and diving behaviour of 16 Atlantic leatherback turtles from three different nesting sites and one foraging site during their post-breeding migration to assess the potential determinants of intra- and inter-population variability in migratory patterns. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using satellite-derived behavioural and oceanographic data, we show that turtles used Temporary Residence Areas (TRAs) distributed all around the Atlantic Ocean: 9 in the neritic domain and 13 in the oceanic domain. These TRAs did not share a common oceanographic determinant but on the contrary were associated with mesoscale surface oceanographic features of different types (i.e., altimetric features and/or surface chlorophyll a concentration). Conversely, turtles exhibited relatively similar horizontal and vertical behaviours when in TRAs (i.e., slow swimming velocity/sinuous path/shallow dives) suggesting foraging activity in these productive regions. Migratory paths and TRAs distribution showed interesting similarities with the trajectories of passive satellite-tracked drifters, suggesting that the general dispersion pattern of adults from the nesting sites may reflect the extent of passive dispersion initially experienced by hatchlings. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Intra- and inter-population behavioural variability may therefore be linked with initial hatchling drift scenarios and be highly influenced by environmental conditions. This high degree of behavioural plasticity in Atlantic leatherback turtles makes species-targeted conservation strategies challenging and stresses the need for a larger dataset (>100 individuals) for providing general recommendations in terms of conservation

Understanding the conservation-genetics gap in Latin America: challenges and opportunities to integrate genetics into conservation practices

Introduction: Integrating genetic data into conservation management decisions is a challenging task that requires strong partnerships between researchers and managers. Conservation in Latin America is of crucial relevance worldwide given the high biodiversity levels and the presence of hotspots in this region.Methods: We conducted a survey across Latin America to identify gaps and opportunities between genetic researchers and conservation managers. We aimed to better understand conservation managers’ points of view and how genetic research could help conservation practitioners to achieve their goals, by implementing genetic assessments that could effectively inform conservation practices. We distributed an online survey via four regional collaborating organizations and 32 focal points based in 20 Latin American countries. The target respondents were conservation managers of species or areas in Latin America.Results: We collected a total of 468 answered questionnaires from 21 Latin American countries. Most respondents (44%) were from an academic or research institution while non-academics were mainly from non-governmental institutions (30%) and government agencies (25%). Most respondents (65%) have performed or used genetic assessments in their managed area or species, either alone, in partnership, contracting someone else or using published results. For the majority of this group, the genetic results were relevant to their conservation management goals, helping to inform management decisions. Respondents that had not performed genetic assessments (35%) were mainly from the non-academic group, and their main barriers were limited access to funds, genetic lab facilities, and trained personnel to design studies and conduct lab work.Discussion: From the findings, we describe the current situation and provide a general diagnosis of the conservation-genetics gap in Latin America. We describe the gender gap, academic-practitioner co-development of conservation questions and projects, and the nationality and residency of Latin American conservation managers in relation to the countries where they work. We discuss opportunities to co-create research questions and co-develop studies based on conservation practitioners’ needs. We offer recommendations for overcoming barriers to integrate genetic information into conservation actions, and advance agendas that fit the needs and realities of the highly heterogeneous, biodiverse and challenging Latin American region

Contacts et acculturations en Méditerranée occidentale

La question des contacts entre les différents peuples qui bordent les rives de la Méditerranée nord occidentale est l’un des sujets phares de la recherche archéologique de ces trente dernières années. Que l’on parle d’époque archaïque et classique ou de Protohistoire et d’âge du Fer, les échanges et les processus d’acculturation de ces peuples qui entrèrent alors en contact les uns avec les autres : Grecs, Celtes, Phéniciens, Ibères, Ligures, Étrusques, ont retenu l’attention des chercheurs travaillant sur l’expansion grecque dans ces régions, sur les trafics commerciaux, sur les échanges culturels. L’œuvre de Michel Bats (Directeur de recherche honoraire du CNRS) traverse toutes ces thématiques : la présence des Phocéens et des Étrusques dans le bassin occidental de la Méditerranée, l’acculturation et les identités ethno-culturelles, les recherches sur la céramique et ses usages dans une perspective anthropologique, l’appropriation de l’écriture par les sociétés protohistoriques. Ses collègues et amis, en organisant ce colloque et en participant à ces actes, entendent lui témoigner leur amitié et leur dette intellectuelle. Ce volume réunit des articles des meilleurs spécialistes, actuels de la question - des chercheurs de toute la Méditerranée - autour des quatre grands thèmes que nous venons d’évoquer afin tout à la fois de dresser un bilan et de définir de nouvelles perspectives. Cet ouvrage présente donc aussi bien des synthèses - sur la présence grecque en Espagne, sur l’origine de l’écriture, sur les pratiques funéraires, sur les identités culturelles et ethniques - que des découvertes récentes concernant la thématique des contacts et de l’acculturation en Méditerranée nord occidentale : l’agglomération du Premier âge du Fer de La Cougourlude (Lattes, Hérault) fouillée durant l’été 2010 ; le sanctuaire hellénistique de Cumes et les fouilles récentes de Fratte en Italie ; les ateliers de potiers de Rosas en Espagne ; les dernières découvertes d’Olbia de Provence

Are stocks of immature loggerhead sea turtles always mixed?

Sea turtles perform extensive migratory movements between feeding, developmental and nesting areas. Developmental areas for immature loggerheads turtles (Caretta caretta) are usually composed of individuals from multiple distant rookeries. Thus, impacts on such stocks usually affect multiple colonies, which require international efforts for conservation. This study describes the molecular genetic composition of the more austral foraging and developmental grounds of loggerhead sea turtles in the Atlantic Ocean and infers the possible origin and dispersal patterns of the species. Analyses were performed using shorter (380. bp) and larger (760. bp) sequences of the control region of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from 24 samples of bycatch and 37 samples of stranded loggerhead sea turtles on the coast of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. All specimens (N=. 61) were adults and sub-adults (mean. ±. standard deviation curved carapace length CCL. =. 68.3. ±. 13.4. cm; range: 52.0 to 107.0. cm, N=. 41 individuals measured). Both shorter and longer mtDNA sequence analysis showed that in the foraging grounds of the Argentinean coast only haplotypes from Brazilian nesting areas (CC-A4. =. 98% and CC-A24. =. 2% for shorter sequences, and CC A4.2. =. 81%, CC A4.1. =. 17% and CC A24.1. =. 2% for longer sequences) were found. The homogeneous stock located relatively close to the rookery where individuals originated contradicts the paradigm of immature loggerhead sea turtles forming mixed stocks in foraging and developmental areas. The conservation of the stock in coastal areas of Argentina could benefit the nesting population in the nearby Brazilian rookeries, and could be achieved by conservation actions between these two countries, as well as Uruguay in between.Fil: Prosdocimi, Laura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución. Laboratorio de Genética de la Estructura Poblacional; ArgentinaFil: Bugoni, Leandro. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte; BrasilFil: Albareda, Diego. Acuario del Jardín Zoológico de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Remis, Maria Isabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución. Laboratorio de Genética de la Estructura Poblacional; Argentin

Origin and genetic diversity of leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea) at Argentine foraging grounds

To conduct conservation of migratory species, such as marine turtles, is important to understand the population structure throughout the entire distribution of the species. We study the genetic composition of the leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea foraging in waters off Argentina by analyzing 763 bp sequences of the mtDNA control region in order to determine the nesting origin of these animals. A total of 40 samples were collected from adult leatherbacks (mean 143.5; 180–123 cm curved carapace length) captured (10%) in fisheries or encountered as strandings (90%). Based on analysis of mtDNA sequences we detected 4 haplotypes, the most common (n = 26) being DC1.1, and the other two rarer DC1.3 (n = 4), DC13.1 (n = 2), and DC1.4 (n = 1). The genetic diversity was evaluated through the haplotype (0, 3712 ± 0, 1000) and nucleotide diversities (0, 000521 ± 0, 000553). Bayesian Mixed Stock Analysis (MSA) showed that the Buenos Aires foraging leatherbacks come primarily from the West African rookeries (Ghana and Gabon, mean estimate = 69% and 14% respectively). MSA results are consistent with those from mark–recapture studies, since four leatherbacks captured in Argentinean waters were adult females that were originally tagged on the nesting beaches in Gabon, West Africa. Our findings demonstrate the connection between nesting and foraging areas in the South Atlantic and illustrate the importance of the Malvinas ecoregion to the survival of migratory marine vertebrates, such as leatherbacks.Fil: Prosdocimi, Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Dutton, P. H.. National Ocean And Atmospheric Administration; Estados UnidosFil: Albareda, Diego. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Jardín Zoológico; ArgentinaFil: Remis, Maria Isabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentin

Aescin protection of human vascular endothelial cells exposed to cobalt chloride mimicked hypoxia and inflammatory stimuli

Human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to CoCl2 as an in vitro model of hypoxia. Expression of VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule), reduction of PECAM-1 (platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule) and cytoskeletal changes without alterations in cell viability were observed. HUVECs were also exposed to Escherichia coli lipopolysaccaride (LPS) as an in vitro model of inflammation: significant IL-6 release was measured. Pre-treatment of HUVECs with aescin prevented, in a concentration-dependent fashion (0.1-1 microM), the action of CoCl2 on VCAM-1 and PECAM-1, also preserving endothelial cell morphology. Furthermore, aescin pre-treatment reduced IL-6 release from LPS-activated vascular endothelium

Genetic composition of green turtle feeding grounds in coastal waters of Argentina based on mitochondrial DNA

The green turtle, Chelonia mydas, like other species of marine turtles, shows great migratory displacement between its nesting and feeding grounds. In an attempt to characterize the southernmost feeding grounds of this species, mtDNA sequence variation of green turtle aggregations in Argentinean waters was studied to elucidate genetic variation and infer possible origins. The goal of the present study is contemplated within the main purpose of the PRICTMA (Regional Program for Sea Turtle Research in Conservation of Argentina) and the Network ASO-Tortugas (Red Atlántico Sur Occidental-Tortugas) which are dedicated to promoting conservation studies in marine turtles in the region. A 486-bp fragment of the mitochondrial DNA control region was sequenced from 93 samples of incidentally caught juveniles from 2004 to 2007, revealing 9 haplotypes. Nucleotide and haplotype diversity were similar to those detected in other Brazilian feeding grounds (Ubatuba and Atol das Rocas/Fernando de Noronha). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated significant genetic differentiation among 9 western Atlantic feeding grounds for which data is currently available, suggesting variable contributions from different nesting colonies (F ST=0.29, P<10 -4; Φ ST=0.55, P<10 -4). Mitochondrial DNA haplotype distributions revealed significant heterogeneity among feeding grounds (X 2: 804.84, P<10 -4). A pairwise analysis revealed that most western Atlantic feeding grounds are genetically differentiated. The weighted and unweighted mixed stock analyses suggests that green turtles at Argentinean feeding grounds originate mainly in the Ascension Island rookery, with less contribution from rookeries in Suriname, Aves Island and Trindade Island.The present results improve our knowledge of the population structure and migration patterns of the Atlantic green turtle, and inform conservation measures on feeding grounds, which may be thousands of kilometers away from the nesting colonies. This information is required to further government efforts for this endangered species.Fil: Prosdocimi, Laura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina. Fundación Mundo Marino; ArgentinaFil: González Carman, Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Subsede Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero; Argentina. Aquamarina-CECIM-PRICTMA; ArgentinaFil: Albareda, Diego. Aquamarina-CECIM-PRICTMA; Argentina. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Jardín Zoológico; ArgentinaFil: Remis, Maria Isabel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin