Michel Sallaberry

Eocene Birds from the Western Margin of Southernmost South America

Abstract This study presents the first record of Eocene birds from the western margin of southernmost South America. Three localities in Magallanes, southern Chile, have yielded a total of eleven bird remains, including Sphenisciformes (penguins) and one record tentatively assigned to cf. Ardeidae (egrets). Two different groups of penguins have been recognized from these localities. The first group is similar in size to the smallest taxa previously described from Seymour Island, Marambiornis Myrcha et al., 2002, Mesetaornis Myrcha et al., 2002, and Delphinornis Wiman, 1905. The second recognized group is similar in size to the biggest taxa from Seymour Island; based on the available remains, we recognize the genus Palaeeudyptes Huxley, 1859, one of the most widespread penguin genera in the Southern Hemisphere during the Eocene. The stratigraphic context of the localities indicates a certain level of correlation with the geological units described on Seymour Island. The newly studied materials cast more light on the paleobiogeography of the group, extending the known ranges to the South American continent. In addition to the newly discovered birds, the presence of several taxa of elasmobranchs previously recovered exclusively from Eocene beds in the Southern Hemisphere help to clarify the age of the studied localities, widely discussed during the last decades. This paper verifies the presence of extensive Eocene sedimentary successions with fossil vertebrates along the western margin of southern South America, contrary to the previous assumption that such a record is lacking in Chile.

Phylogeography of Rhinella spinulosa (Anura: Bufonidae) in northern Chile

The southern part of the Altiplano of the Andes Range is characterized by a complex hydrography, due to an intense geologic activity and the effects of the Pleistocene glaciations. This has produced a high degree of diversity at the species level in some aquatic taxa (e.g., fish and amphibians), which suggests that these same processes have produced divergence at the intraspecific level in co-distributed taxa. We investigated the genetic variation in populations of the anuran Rhinella spinulosa which represent its entire distribution in the extreme north of Chile (17°44′S-23°47′S). Haplotype networks of the mitochondrial control region recognized two main lineages, one of which is distributed from the northern boundary of Chile to the Salar de Alconcha and the other from the Salar de Carcote to the locality of Tilomonte. The northern lineage showed little phylogeographic structure; a few very frequent haplotypes are widely distributed. The southern lineage had greater structure, due principally to the high divergence of the populations from the eastern springs of the Salar de Atacama. Fus Fs test and the mismatch distributions suggested that most of the populations of both lineages are in the process of demographic expansion. The spatial distribution of the genetic variability was correlated with the hydrography and the paleoclimatological data available for the region, which suggested that geographic expansions followed by periods of contraction of population ranges, together with sporadic floods may explain the observed phylogeographic patterns.

Avian Influenza Virus H5 Strain with North American and Eurasian Lineage Genes in an Antarctic Penguin

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Evolution and Conservation on Top of the World: Phylogeography of the Marbled Water Frog (Telmatobius marmoratus Species Complex; Anura, Telmatobiidae) in Protected Areas of Chile

The Andean Altiplano has served as a complex setting throughout its history, driving dynamic processes of diversification in several taxa. We investigated phylogeographic processes in the Telmatobius marmoratus species complex occurring in this region by studying the geographic patterns of genetic variability, genealogies, and historical migration, using the cytochrome b (cyt-b) gene as a marker. DNA sequences from Telmatobius gigas and Telmatobius culeus, Bolivian species with an uncertain taxonomic status, were also included. Additionally, we evaluated the phylogenetic diversity (PD) represented within Chilean protected areas and the complementary contribution from unprotected populations. Phylogenetic reconstructions from 148 cyt-b sequences revealed 4 main clades, one of which corresponded to T. culeus. T. gigas was part of T. marmoratus clade indicating paraphyletic relationships. Haplotypes from Chilean and Bolivian sites were not reciprocally monophyletic. Geographic distribution of lineages, spatial Bayesian analysis, and migration patterns indicated that T. marmoratus displays a weaker geographic structure than expected based on habitat distribution and physiological requirements. Demographic and statistical phylogeography analyses pointed out to a scenario of recent population expansion and high connectivity events of a more recent age than the post Last Glacial Maximum, probably associated to more humid events in Altiplano. PD of T. marmoratus populations within protected areas represents 55.6% of the total estimated PD. The unprotected populations that would contribute the most to PD are Caquena and Quebe (21%). Recent evolutionary processes and paleoclimatic changes, potentially driving shifts in habitat connectivity levels and population sizes, could explain the phylogeographic patterns recovered herein.

The skull of a fossil Prion (Aves: Procellariiformes) from the Neogene (Late Miocene) of northern Chile

Se describe un craneo fosil de un procellariido, Pachyptila sp., proveniente de sedimentos marinos del Mioceno Tardio de la Formacion Bahia Inglesa (Mioceno Medio-Plioceno) del norte de Chile. El fosil es comparado con especies actuales de la familia Procellariidae. Este hallazgo representa el primer registro fosil neogeno del genero Pachyptila en America del Sur.

Temporal variation in isotopic composition of Pygoscelis penguins at Ardley Island, Antarctic: Are foraging habits impacted by environmental change?

Several studies have suggested that penguins are undergoing a major restructuring of their feeding habits and distribution after drastic climatic changes in the Antarctic Peninsula region. With the objective of estimating potential medium-term and inter-annual variations in trophic niche, we measured δ15N and δ13C in feather samples of pygoscelid penguins from museum specimens (1982–1984) and in blood and feather samples from 2009/10–2011 collected from animals on Ardley Island. Current penguin feathers had lower δ13C and δ15N values and were more similar to Antarctic krill values, than feathers in 1982–1984 and blood from 2009/10-2011. Moreover, δ13C and δ15N values from museum feathers and modern samples occupied a larger isotopic space in Gentoo Penguins (Pygoscelis papua), compared to Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) and Chinstrap Penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica). Our results from feathers samples indicated that penguins have decreased their consumption of fish and other prey of higher trophic levels in the early interbreeding period (EIBP), while increasing the amount of euphausiids (Antarctic krill Euphausia superba) taken. The isotopic values of the species suggest that foraging sites varied significantly over time and seasonally. We suggest that environmental changes may have modified the feeding habits of pygoscelid penguins, resulting in changed foraging behaviour in the EIBP, and altering the secondary prey consumption. Prey choice in breeding pygoscelid species is probably limited by the foraging range around the breeding colony and competitive exclusion between congeners.

Aprovechamiento humano de aves marinas durante el Holoceno medio en el litoral árido del norte de Chile

Se identifico y analizo la osteofauna aviar del sitio arqueologico Copaca 1, ubicado en el litoral arido de la segunda Region de Chile. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 685 fragmentos extraidos desde nueve capas con dataciones que cubren un rango entre 8000 - 5000 anos cal. a.p. Los resultados indican que el ensamble de aves marinas encontrado en este sitio conserva actualmente su rango de distribucion en la zona de estudio, siendo dominantes los ordenes Suliformes, Procellariiformes y Pelecaniformes. Los analisis sugieren un aprovechamiento principalmente sobre Puffinus sp., Pelecanus thagus y Phalacrocorax sp., identificandose un minimo numero de individuos de 74 aves. Ademas, se estimo la masa corporal utilizable aportada por cada taxon y se determino una representacion diferencial de elementos anatomicos apendiculares junto con diversos grados de fraccionamiento y marcas culturales, que indicarian obtencion de alimento y elaboracion de artefactos. Nuestros resultados apoyan el aprovechamiento de aves marinas durante el Holoceno medio en la costa suroccidental de Sudamerica.

The taxonomic status of two Telmatobius frog species (Anura: Telmatobiidae) from the western Andean slopes of northernmost Chile

On the basis of molecular and morphological evidence, we evaluated the taxonomic identity of two species of Andean frogs of the genus Telmatobius: Telmatobius pefauri and T. zapahuirensis, present in the western Andean slopes at the northern extreme of Chile. We also investigated the taxonomic assignment of five populations of Telmatobius recently discovered around the type localities of these two species. The results indicate that T. pefauri inhabits, not only Murmuntani its type locality, but also the montane localities of Belén, Copaquilla, Lupica, Saxamar and Socoroma. Our study also shows that T. pefauri and T. zapahuirensis are the same taxon. Therefore, Telmatobius zapahuirensis Veloso, Sallaberry, Navarro, Iturra, Valencia, Penna & Díaz, 1982 would be a subjective junior synonym of Telmatobius pefauri Veloso & Trueb, 1976.

Discriminación de taxones de aves a través del análisis comparativo de la microestructura de plumas: una aplicación en el sitio tulán 122, Puna de Atacama, Chile

Results of analysis from feathers recovered in the Early Formative (ca. 2700 B.P.) Tulan-122 site are presented. The site is located in Quebrada Tulan on the eastern slope of the Puna de Atacama. Macroscopic features (coloration and size) of taxidermic and zoorachaeological samples were compared. A protocol for the preparation of feather barbules was performed and the nodes were studied by using amplification (1400X). The genus Sicalis (Boie 1828) was identified. Results of the feather and bones are compared in order to discuss the taphonomic variables and interpretation of the use of birs in the site.

Comparison of the Oxygen Diffusing Capacity of the Picui Ground Dove (Columbina picui) with Other Doves of Chile

Se estudio la densidad de superficie respiratoria y el espesor de la barrera sangre-aire en la Tortolita cuyana (Columbina picui), y se comparo con la Tortola cordillerana (Metropelia melanoptera) y la Tortola (Zenaida auriculata), dos especies mas grandes. Como era de esperar, en C. picui el metabolismo basal y el metabolismo maximo fueron mas altos que los de especies mas grandes, pero de acuerdo a lo esperado para el tamano corporal. La densidad de la superficie respiratoria y el espesor de la barrera sangre-aire no fueron diferentes entre las diferentes especies de tortolas. Sin embargo C. picui mostro un factor de difusion anatomica inferior a M. melanoptera y Z. auriculata. C. picui tuvo valores bajos de capacidad de difusion de oxigeno, como las aves cursoriales. A una diferencia de presion parcial de oxigeno de 7,5 Kpa, un valor habitual a nivel del mar, apenas podria satisfacer sus necesidades de energia maxima y esto significa que tendria serias limitaciones para vivir a gran altura, lo cual es coherente con la observacion de que esta especie habita en las tierras bajas y en la zona precordillerana de los Andes.