Aquatic biodiversity of Patagonian wetlands.

EPELE LUIS BELTRAN

Vancouver

Jornada; UBC Postdoctoral Association Research Day.; 2015

University of British Columbia

Wetlands are worldwide recognized as biodiversity hotspots and have a significant role to play in the provision of ecosystem services. Patagonian wetlands are important resources for terrestrial and aquatic native species, and are used for livestock grazing sustaining the regional economy. However, to date scientific information of the wetland status and the associated aquatic species is very scarce. A set of 30 wetlands and 15 rivers/streams (42°02' and 44°22' S - 70°13' and 71°31' W) was sampled once during summer. An environmental characterization was performed including physicochemical and biological features. At each site a macrophyte inventory was conducted and vegetation cover (percentage) was estimated. Samples of aquatic invertebrates were collected from the water column at wetlands (n=90), and from benthos (n=45) at rivers, (n= 3 per site). A total of 52 taxa of aquatic plants in 22 families were recognized, with 36 native species (75%), six of which were endemic to the Chilean and Argentinean Patagonia. Aquatic invertebrate assemblages from the 45 studied sites were composed by 162 taxa, distributed in 4 phyla, 22 orders and 61 families. Rivers showed greater taxonomic richness than wetlands, however the highest proportion of endemic species was found at isolated wetlands. Given the number of endemic species, isolated environments would be more vulnerable than those wetlands connected to lotic systems. Unfortunately, arid and semi-arid Patagonia has very few protected areas. Therefore, this information could be used to develop strategies for the conservation of Patagonian wetlands.