Description: This article discusses the autecology of the fío-fío. Abstract: As the most diverse and abundant terrestrial vertebrates in the Cape Horn Archipelago, birds potentially play key roles in the ecology of subantarctic ecosystems. However, the lack of long-term ornithological studies in southern South America has previously hindered the identification of relevant aspects of the autecology of even the most common species. One abundant species in the austral summer is the fío-fío's ecology in the CHBR by determining: a) longevity and site fidelity, b) arrival-departure dates, c) abundance of adults and juveniles, d) diet and e) morphology. A total 827 fío-fíos were banded during the study period. Of the 67 recaptures, it was possible to determine that fío-fíos may live at least up to 7 years. Fío-fíos arrived as early as 28 October and left as late as 15 April with juveniles fledging in January. In the austral archipelago, the fío-fío's diet consisted of 10 invertebrate orders and at least 5 plant species. Males had significantly longer tails and wings than females, while females were significantly heavier in the pre-fledging season (Oct-Dec). This study provides new information on the autecology of fío-fío in the world's southernmost forests.

Description: This article discusses building a Chilean network for long-term socio-ecological research. Abstract: Since their formal inception in 1980, long-term ecological research (LTER) programs have served as a successful organizing framework to create research agendas and funding mechanisms that allow scientists to address meaningful ecological phenomena at the scales they occur. In its 30 years of existence, LTER has expanded its geographic range (currently the International LTER network has more than 40 country members with sites on every continent) and disciplinary foci (principally encompassing the natural and social sciences and leading some to call for a name change to long-term socio-ecological research efforts exist in both Chile and Argentina, and in 2008, the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity launched Chile's first concerted effort to link three existing sites (Fray Jorge Forest National Park -33° S, Senda Darwin Biological Station - 43° S, and Omora Ethnobotanical Park - 55° S). Here, the authors present a special feature of the Revista Chilena de Historia Natural, dedicated to LTSER, with the aim of 1) providing a synthesis of some of the most emblematic cases of long-term socio-ecological research in Chile; 2) demonstrating the value of these efforts for the integration of research, education and ...

Description: This article discusses diversity and singularity of the avifauna in the austral peat bogs of the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve, Chile. Abstract: Sphagnum-dominated peat bogs that are strongly embedded within the southern temperate forest matrix are increasingly being used for agriculture. Nevertheless, little is known about their biodiversity. Moreover, the remote areas of southern Chile where peat bogs are found, such as Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve (CHBR, 54-55°S), where birds are the most diverse and best represented group of vertebrates, have not been well-investigated. With the aim to broaden this knowledge in the CHBR, the authors studied the diversity of the avian assemblage in peat blogs on Navarino Island. The authors compared the composition of avian species between wetlands with and without peat bogs to test if Sphagnum bogs represented a singular habitat for birds in this area. Furthermore, the 37 bird species recorded in these habitats were classified according to guild structure. The community similarity values showed that peat bogs hosted a bird composition that was different from that present in wetlands without Sphagnum, suggesting that peat bogs are a singular type of habitat for birds in the CHBR. The most frequently feeding groups recorded in these wetlands were ...

Description: This article discusses field environmental philosophy and biocultural conservation at the Omora Ethnobotanical Park. Abstract: In order to effectively address the problems derived from global environmental change, environmental scientists, citizens and decision-makers now recognize the need to integrate more fully the human or social component into ecological research. The authors propose that to achieve this integration, Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) networks offer an ideal platform, because such sites enable research at ecological, cultural, and political local scales, and at the same time allow addressing these issues at a global scale. However, this socio-ecological work still requires better articulation of programs developed at multiple geographic, ecological and political scales. In addition, until now the social component considered in LTSER programs has focused on economic factors, omitting ethical dimensions. A central reason for this omission is the lack of methodologies to systematically integrate ethics into LTSER programs. As a contribution to resolve this limitation, here the authors develop a methodological approach that the authors call "field environmental philosophy." It integrates ecological research and environmental ethics into biocultural education and conservation through an interrelated four-step cycle: i) interdisciplinary ecological and philosophical research, ii) composition of metaphors, and communication through simple narratives, iii) design ...

Description: This article discusses field environmental philosophy and biocultural conservation. Abstract: Habitats (where we live), habits (how we live), and inhabitants (who we are) constitute an ecosystem unit. The biosphere is composed of a reticulate mosaic of these habitat-habit-inhabitant units, where humans (with their indigenous languages, ecological knowledge, and practices) have coevolved. Today, these diverse ecosystem units are being violently destroyed by the imposition of a single global colonial cultural model. In Cape Horn at the southern end of the Americas, educators, authorities, and decision makers do not know about the native habitats, language, and flora, and do not distinguish between Cape Horn's flora and the flora that grows in other parts of the country or the world. In contrast, indigenous people and old residents have a detailed knowledge, but they do not participate in education, and decision making. It is not Homo Sapiens in general, but bioculturally biased educators, authorities, and decision makers who need to be transformed into (educated and responsible) members and citizen of biocultural communities. The Omora Ethnobotanical Park educational program was launched to contribute to a biocultural citizenship involving three critical steps: (1) the disclosing of biocultural diversity with a "fine filter" approach that permits understanding ...