|Biosphere Reserve Information|
CABO DE HORNOS
The zonation protects a vast complex of unique ecosystems in the extreme south-western end of the American continent. This complex of ecosystems includes the subantarctic rain forests of Magellanic Chile dominated by the evergreen species Drimys winteri and Nothofagus betuloides, the last one which is endemic to this type of ecosystem. The complex of ecosystems includes tundra formations that also have endemic species of flora and fauna. The zonation scheme integrates marine-terrestrial conservation, protecting species that use both types of environments. Among them, various endangered species such as the sea cat (Lontra felina) and southern river otter (L. provocax) are recorded. In the coastal area, the zonation scheme allows for the protection of extensive meadows of brown seaweed and subantarctic kelp forests composed by species of Lessonia, Druvillea and/or Macrocystis. In the marine zones, the scheme protects benthic and pelagic species of seaweed, invertebrates and vertebrates, among which several species of cetaceaes. Above all, the present zonation scheme is new for Chile in the sense that it is protecting an integrated system of marine and terrestrial habitats that contribute not only to the protection of species, but also of ecological and evolutionary processes of local, regional and global relevance. The core areas include the Cabo de Hornos and Agostini National Parks. The buffer zones include the high-priority sites for biodiversity conservation and the coastal strip around the terrestrial core areas. The disposition of the buffer zones also allows mitigating the impacts of the urban centres of Puerto Williams and Ushuaia (Argentina). Both the buffer zones and transition areas promote sustainable activities especially related to tourism and fishery, and only low impact activities are permitted in the buffer zones. The local population mainly lives in the transition area and works in tourism and artisanal fishery in the buffer zones and transition areas.
Long-term meteorological monitoring; Monitoring of water temperature in three rivers; Geomorphology and quantification of nutrients in rivers that have been affected by beavers, an introduced species; Studies on rodents (life cycles and ecology); permanent plots for the monitoring of the dynamics and changes in vegetation due to global climatic change; Studies on birds (DNA, diet, nesting, migration and behaviour); Expeditions for the collection of mosses and hepaticas that has resulted in the discovery of new species; Studies on aquatic ecology, terrestrial insects and invasive exotic species; Demographic and social studies; Poverty; Socio-economic factors; Publication on traditional knowledge; Studies on marine ecosystems: biological, geological and hydrological characterization of the coasts of Isla Navarion, Isla Hoste and Cabo de Hornos archipelago, Qualitative and quantitative studies on marine biodiversity, Qualitative studies of ficologia; Qualitative studies on faunal diversity in coastal areas; Quantitative studies on marine flora and fauna; Characterization of the algae Macrocystis pyrifera; Studies on the distribution and dynamics of exotic and invasive species in the coastal-marine area.
|Abiotic||Abiotic factors, climate, geology, geomorphology, global change, hydrology, meteorology, monitoring/methodologies, nutrients.|
|Biodiversity||Algae, alien/invasive/exotic/introduced species, biodiversity, biology, birds, coastal/marine, ecology, ethology, fauna, flora, freshwater/inland water, invertebrates/insects/spiders, island systems/islands, mammals, migrating populations/migration, monitoring/methodologies, species inventorying/inventory, vegetation studies/plant cover.|
|Socio-economic||Cultural aspects, demography, poverty, social/socio-economic aspects, traditional practices/ethnology/traditional knowledge.|
|Integrated monitoring||Impact and risk studies/Environmental impact.|
|Last updated: 08/03/2011|