Last 50 years of southern South American malacology: a tale of setbacks and progress

PASTORINO, G.; SCARABINO, F.

Phuket

Congreso; 17th International Congress of UNITAS MALACOLOGICA; 2010

UNITAS MALACOLOGICA

The past 50 years of southern South American history were marked by political movements that dramatically impacted scientific production. Knowledge of the molluscan fauna increased in the early 1960’s and a number of regional catalogues were published. Several national and other institutions contained small research centers - e.g., J. Parodiz and A. Carcelles and recently P. Penchaszadeh, at the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; M. I. Hylton-Scott and later Z. J. A. de Castellanos at the Museo de La Plata – but their initial isolation prevented the high standard and rich productivity that characterizes modern regional malacology. Brazil has been the fastest growing country on the continent in terms of malacology over the past few decades, with several prominent workers (e.g. E. C. Rios, Museu Oceanografico de Rio Grande; W. Narchi and O. Domaneschi, Instituto de Biociencias da Universidade de São Paulo; J. W. Thomé, Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul; L. Paraense, Instituto “Oswaldo Cruz” founding what is known as Brazilian Malacology.  The Sociedad Malacológica del Uruguay has been publishing the Comunicaciones for more than 50 years and the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Universidad de la República and Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos have been active centers of research where M. A. Klappenbach and V. Scarabino are among the most productive researchers.  Chile has been a leader in marine aquaculture and contains several important research centers as The Estación Costera de Investigaciones Marinas and productive researchers (e.g. J. C. Castilla; C. S. Gallardo, Universidad Austral; C. Osorio, Facultad de Ciencias de la Universidad de Chile; J. Stuardo, Universidad de Concepción). The Sociedad Malacológica de Chile has been active since 1979.  The Congreso Latinoamericano de Malacologia (CLAMA), which has met every three years since 1991, has been the most significant event in South America. The last 50 years of malacology in the south of South America were characterized by advances based on personal efforts that due to economical and political crisis, the absence of long lasting scientific programs, and paucity of personnel produced periods of low productivity relative to other regions.