Yerko A. Vilina

Current status and breeding distribution of Red-legged Cormorant Phalacrocorax gaimardi along the Chilean coast

Summary Red-legged Cormorant Phalacrocorax gaimardi, considered Near Threatened, is one of the most conspicuous seabirds on the south Pacific coast, although its current status is unknown. During spring and summer of 1998, 1999 and 2000 we surveyed Red-legged Cormorants along the Chilean coast. Survey portions of the coast were chosen based on published information, and discussions with local people. Nesting sites were distributed from Arica (18°30′ S) to the Peninsula de Taitao (46°25′ S). We found 40 breeding areas with at least 54 colonies, ranging from two to 964 nests. Colony size (as number of breeding birds) was larger in the south than in the north. Isolated pairs or small colonies were found in the northern and central part of Chile. The southern coast (X th Region) held most colonies, including the largest one with approximately 1,000 breeding pairs, suggesting it is a critical area for the species. We estimated the Red-legged Cormorant population in Chile to be between 5,018 and 5,218 breeding pairs. The X th Region holds approximately 80% of the whole Chilean population. Factors affecting the breeding distribution of this bird in Chile include coastal development, nesting habitat availability and the occurrence of El Nino (ENSO) events. Human consumption may be important locally, mainly in the south. Chile holds more than 70% of the world breeding population, estimated at fewer than 15,000 individuals. The Peruvian population has declined during recent decades, and the Argentinean population seems to be small and stable. Thus the Chilean coast, particularly the X th Region, is a critical area for the conservation of this species.

HÁBITAT REPRODUCTIVO Y ESTIMACIÓN DEL TAMAÑO POBLACIONAL DEL PINGÜINO DE MAGALLANES (SPHENISCUS MAGELLANICUS) EN ISLA RUPERT, PARQUE MARINO FRANCISCO COLOANE, ESTRECHO DE MAGALLANES

Tellez. L. Estimacion de la abundancia, exito reproductivo y calendarizacion del ciclo reproductivo en areas con y sin visitantes en la colonia de Spheniscus magellanicus del seno Otway, Provincia de Magallanes. Chile (2005). Tesis de Tecnico Agropecuario no publicada. Universidad de Magallanes 87 pp.Recibido: Mar., 16, 2009 Aceptado: Jun., 30, 2009

Home sweet home: social dynamics and genetic variation of a long-term resident bottlenose dolphin population off the Chilean coast

Coastal resident and pelagic nonresident bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus , have been described in north-central Chile. Using long-term residence data (over 13 years of photo-identification) and genetic mtDNA information, we analysed the social dynamics through time and the genetic variation of this long-term resident population, and evaluated its sociogenetic interaction with nonresidents. Pelagic nonresident dolphins exhibited a higher level of genetic diversity than coastal residents and a significant difference in genetic structure was detected between them. Based on the difference in haplotype numbers and frequencies between resident and nonresident populations and between resident males and females, we propose a population dynamic model in which the resident population is composed of (1) resident females (founder lineages) and some of their female descendants that were born in and remained in the group, without effective female immigration from the nonresident population, (2) resident male descendants of the founder lineage that were born in and remained in the group and (3) resident males that were incorporated from the pelagic groups. Male-biased migration from nonresident pelagic groups into the resident population likely contributes to genetic variation and therefore may help limit inbreeding in the resident population. Finally, we propose that the peripatric model of population differentiation, where resident groups are sporadically connected to the pelagic population, may explain the origin of this unique resident population of bottlenose dolphins along the Chilean coast.

Southernmost limit of the Vicugna vicugna Molina (Mammalia: Camelidae) in Chile: a review of old records and new field data

Vicugna vicugna Molina es un mamifero de tamano relativamente grande y de habitos conspicuos; sin embargo, su limite de distribucion Sur en Chile no esta bien establecido. Muchos autores han fijado este limite a los 27o 30’S, nosotros entregamos informacion de campo de un limite de distribucion 140 km mas al sur al propuesto recientemente.