Julio L. Lancelotti

Scale, connectivity, and incentives in the introduction and management of non‐native species: the case of exotic salmonids in Patagonia

Many introduced species have become established throughout large areas of the world, causing millions of dollars in damages. The introduction of such pest species is universally condemned, and science and management efforts are geared toward eradication, containment, or prevention of future infestations. Meanwhile, other organisms are actively traded around the world for consumption, as well as recreational and aesthetic purposes, providing examples of the conflict between human development and conservation. When dealing with such species, are there ways to balance the competing goals of economic production and protection of nature? How can science help to identify suitable compromises? We address these questions by analyzing three case studies dealing with exotic salmonids in Patagonia: trout aquaculture in shallow, fishless lakes; trout recreational fisheries; and marine net-pen salmon aquaculture. We propose that three interrelated properties of these case studies (scale, connectivity, and incentives for conservation) determine our ability to identify and promote situations that balance production and the integrity of nature.

Accumulation and distribution of trace metals within soils and the austral cordgrass Spartina densiflora in a Patagonian salt marsh.

Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn were determined in soils and in below- and above-ground structures of Spartina densiflora in a Patagonian salt marsh (San Antonio, Río Negro, Argentina). Also, the relationship between trace metal concentrations in soils and plants was investigated to improve our knowledge regarding the ability of this plant species to take up and accumulate trace metals from the soil. Our results indicate that, within the studied salt marsh, soil trace metal concentrations follow a decreasing concentration gradient toward the sea. They show moderate pollution and a potentially negative biological effect in one site of the salt marsh. While below-ground structures reflect the soil metal concentration pattern, this is not so evident in above-ground concentrations. Also, S. densiflora is able to absorb a limited amount of metals present in the soil, the soil bioaccumulation factor being lower in sites where soil metal concentration is higher.

Comparison of phytoremediation potential capacity of Spartina densiflora and Sarcocornia perennis for metal polluted soils

Phytoremediation is considered the most appropriate technique to restore metal polluted soil, given its low cost, high efficiency and low environmental impact. Spartina densiflora and Sarcocornia perennis are perennial halophytes growing under similar environmental conditions in San Antonio marsh (Patagonia Argentina), therefore it is interesting to compare their phytoremediation potential capacity. To this end, we compared concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, and Fe in soils and in below- and above-ground structures of S. perennis and S. densiflora. It was concluded that both species are able to inhabit Pb, Zn, and Cu polluted soils. Although Sarcocornia translocated more metals to the aerial structures than Spartina, both species translocated only when they were growing in soils with low metal concentrations. It seems that the plants translocate only a certain proportion of the metal contained in the soil. These results suggest that both species could be considered candidates to phytostabilize these metals in polluted soils.

Population data of 15 autosomal STR markers from Afro-Bolivians of Nor Yungas Province (Bolivia)

Allele frequencies and forensic parameters for 15 autosomal loci included in the AmpFlSTR® Identifiler kit were estimated in a sample of 57 unrelated Afro-descendants from Nor Yungas (Bolivia). Buccal swabs samples were obtained from voluntary donors, after consent was given. All loci were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium after Bonferroni correction. D21S11 was the most informative locus, while the least discriminating locus was D3S1358. The combined power of discrimination and the combined probability of exclusion were >0.99999999 and >0.99997, respectively. The multidimensional scaling (MDS) plot generated by Rst matrix supported that Afro-Bolivians of Nor Yungas preserved a stronger African descent compared to other admixed Latin American populations. These results amplified the Bolivian databases of autosomal STR loci and may provide a useful tool for human identification tests and population genetic studies.