Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina

About: Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Pampas deer. The organization has 27 authors who have published 28 publications receiving 727 citations. The organization is also known as: Fundacion Vida Silvestre Argentina.

Impact of climate change on Antarctic krill

Abstract: Antarctic krill Euphausia superba (hereafter `krill') occur in regions undergoing rapid environmental change, particularly loss of winter sea ice. During recent years, harvesting of krill has in creased, possibly enhancing stress on krill and Antarctic ecosystems. Here we review the overall impact of climate change on krill and Antarctic ecosystems, discuss implications for an ecosystem-based fisheries management approach and identify critical knowledge gaps. Sea ice decline, ocean warming and other environmental stressors act in concert to modify the abundance, distribution and life cycle of krill. Although some of these changes can have positive effects on krill, their cumulative impact is most likely negative. Recruitment, driven largely by the winter survival of larval krill, is probably the population parameter most susceptible to climate change. Predicting changes to krill populations is urgent, because they will seriously impact Antarctic ecosystems. Such predictions, however, are complicated by an intense inter-annual variability in recruitment success and krill abundance. To improve the responsiveness of the ecosystem-based management approach adopted by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), critical knowledge gaps need to be filled. In addition to a better understanding of the factors influencing recruitment, management will require a better understanding of the resilience and the genetic plasticity of krill life stages, and a quantitative understanding of under-ice and benthic habitat use. Current precautionary management measures of CCAMLR should be maintained until a better understanding of these processes has been achieved. [GRAPHICS] .

Protected areas and spatial conservation priorities for endemic vertebrates of the Gran Chaco, one of the most threatened ecoregions of the world

Abstract: Aim: To evaluate the representativeness of the current network of protected areas (PAs) of one of the most threatened ecoregions in the world, the South American Gran Chaco, and determine priority conservation areas for endemic (and nearly endemic) terrestrial vertebrates of the region. Location: South America. Methods: We identified all those amphibians, mammals and birds whose distributions were at least 70% within the Gran Chaco. Then, we refined and corrected species’ distributional ranges, first, using records from collections and expert knowledge, and second, by incorporating environmental and topographic data using a technique for range polygon refinement. Lastly, we used Zonation, a spatial conservation prioritization software, to evaluate representativeness of the current protected areas (PAs) network of the region and to define forest remnants to strategically expand PAs while maximizing the representativeness of the selected groups and considering human activities. Results: Current PAs cover 9% of the region and represent 9.1% of the total distribution of endemic species. Considering our prioritization, increasing the coverage to 17% to match the Aichi targets would substantially increase the representativeness of the PA network, covering on average more than 30% of the ranges of all endemic species and 77% of the distributions of threatened and DD endemic species. Main conclusions: Our results highlight that the need for well-informed decisions in the Gran Chaco is imperative. While the current PA network in the region ensures a very poor representation of endemic terrestrial vertebrates, opportunities to efficiently expand the PAs network are really high. This emphasizes the potential of complementarity-based systematic conservation planning tools as an essential support for conservation decisions. Given the great information gaps regarding biodiversity and human activities in the region, similar studies with updated data would improve conservation planning in the Gran Chaco in the future. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Estimates of seabird by-catch along the Patagonian Shelf by Argentine longline fishing vessels, 1999–2001

Abstract: The incidental mortality of albatrosses Diomedeidae and petrels Procellariidae by longline fishing vessels, has been assessed and analysed in several areas of the globe. We provide the first direct estimates of incidental mortality rates of albatrosses and petrels along the Argentine Shelf and shelf break. The estimated by-catch rate for the whole period analysed (1999-2001) was 0.04 birds/1,000 hooks, with a maximum of 0.20 birds/1,000 hooks observed in 1999. Annual captures averaged 1,160 birds; however, the large variation observed indicates that annual by-catch may be in the order of thousands, with around 10,000 seabirds being killed by longliners through the study period. Most of the captures were observed along the Patagonian shelf break. At least 12 bird species were incidentally taken, with Black-browed Albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris and White-chinned Petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis accounting for about 80% of total captures. The information provided in this study allowed the design and future implementation of mitigation measures and new survey methods onboard longliners operating in Atlantic waters on the Argentine shelf.

Health Evaluation of Pampas Deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus celer) at Campos del Tuyú Wildlife Reserve, Argentina

Abstract: Samples from 14 free-ranging pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus celer) were collected in 1995 and 1998, at Campos del Tuyu Wildlife Reserve, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Hematology, serum chemistries, minerals and metals, and fecal parasites were analyzed. In addition, fecal ova and parasites were evaluated seasonally during 1998–2000. Serology for infectious diseases included bluetongue, brucellosis, bovine respiratory syncytial virus infection, bovine viral diarrhea/mucosal disease, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, Johne's disease (paratuberculosis), foot and mouth disease (FMD), leptospirosis (eight serovars), epizootic hemorrhagic disease, and parainfluenza-3 (PI-3). Three (21%) pampas deer had antibodies to Leptospira spp. and six (43%) to PI-3 virus. Serologic results for all other infectious agents were negative. Domestic cattle (n=27) included in this study for comparison had antibodies to Leptospira, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, bovine viral diarrhea virus, and PI-3 virus (74–100% of t...