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2011

The life history of the elegant quail in Sonora Mexico

This study was a necessary component of a larger study examining the varying response of species in the quail genus Callipepla to environmental change. In particular, researchers were testing the hypothesis that elegant quail (C. douglasiiare) of Sonora, Mexico are less behaviorally flexible and therefore more susceptible to environmental change than California quail (C. californica), a species that has successfully… Read Project SummaryThe life history of the elegant quail in Sonora Mexico

Genetic conservation of Zaedyus pichiy (Mammalia, Xenarthra) in Argentina: molecular tools applied to species preservation

The pichy (Zaedyus pichiy) or dwarf armadillo is near threatened species that ranges from central to southern Argentina and Chile. The primary objective of this project was to analyze phylogeographic patterns of dwarf armadillos along their entire distribution using molecular markers, examining the relationship between these patterns and geomorphological history. This analysis would provide a measure of genetic diversity among… Read Project SummaryGenetic conservation of Zaedyus pichiy (Mammalia, Xenarthra) in Argentina: molecular tools applied to species preservation

Predicting and managing the spread of invasive beavers in the heterogeneous landscapes of Patagonia

Beavers are an invasive species on the island of Tierra del Fuego in Argentina and Chile. Since their arrival in 1946, beavers have increased their numbers from the original 25 pairs to approximately 100,000 individuals. Beavers are responsible for the most drastic landscape alteration in Tierra del Fuego since the last glacial age, affecting the hydrology and composition of the… Read Project SummaryPredicting and managing the spread of invasive beavers in the heterogeneous landscapes of Patagonia

Marine Turtle Center: Active participation by coastal communities and tourists to ensure survival of marine turtles on the Atlantic Ocean coast, Uruguay

The Marine Turtle Center (MTC/Center) in La Coronilla, Uruguay, was established to promote conservation of marine turtles and their habitats through environmental education and responsible ecotourism. The Center had been closed for the past four years due to deterioration of the facilities, and this award funded a remodel of the visitor center as well as several community outreach efforts.

Read Project SummaryMarine Turtle Center: Active participation by coastal communities and tourists to ensure survival of marine turtles on the Atlantic Ocean coast, Uruguay

Paleoparasitological study of zoonosis in Patagonia, Argentina

Paleoparasitology is focused on the parasitological examination of materials found in archeological and paleontological deposits. It has the potential to provide information about various cultural, paleoecological and evolutionary aspects. Parasitic relationships are sensitive indicators of developmental, ecological and cultural aspects of host populations – they can reveal potential exposure of humans and animals to zoonotic diseases, associations with wild animals, prey consumption, domestication, mobility and demographic trends. This study proposed the first paleoparasitological study of rodent coprolites (fossilized feces) from the Huenul 1 cave in Neuquén, Argentina, a site that contains stratified sequences of archeological and paleontological remains assigned to the late Pleistocene-early Holocene period and evidence of brief but repeated human use at different stages of settlement of northern Patagonia.Read Project SummaryPaleoparasitological study of zoonosis in Patagonia, Argentina

Amphibian communities of agroecosystems in the Argentine Pampean green belt and their conservation challenges

This is a continuation of a previously funded project (2010). Amphibians are important indicators of environmental health and play multiple functional roles in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Amphibian populations have declined worldwide and this trend has been attributed to a variety of causes, including chytridiomycosis – an infectious disease caused by the fungus Batrachotrytium dendrobatidis – and exposure to… Read Project SummaryAmphibian communities of agroecosystems in the Argentine Pampean green belt and their conservation challenges