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Strategies to reduce the negative impacts of fisheries on ecosystems often come into conflict with fishers who have different experiences with, and perceptions of, biodiversity compared to policy makers and fisheries managers. We interviewed 800 fishers along 2400 kilometers of the Humboldt Current System (HCS) coast, assessing fishers' perceptions of the impacts of marine predators on fishing and their proposals to reduce conflicts with small-scale net fisheries. Vessel captains saw seabirds as positive indicators of fish presence along the HCS (mean probability 62.7%). In contrast, sea lions were perceived negatively, affecting catches for all fishers and causing fishing gear damage among gillnet fishers (97.1%). Among different measures suggested by fishers to reduce conflicts with non-target taxa, night fishing and marine protected areas (MPAs) were viewed as least likely to be implemented because these affect fishing performance (6% and 13.1%) through changes to at-sea safety and fishing effort displacement, respectively. In contrast, economic compensation and culling of currently protected sea lions were the most popular but also the most sensitive measures (31% and 33%, respectively). Different dimensions of experiences and perceptions of fishers are key to the bottom-up understanding of interactions in small-scale fisheries. This is especially true when measures to mitigate their impacts do not have any consolidated installation/monitoring, which is a continuing challenge for these types of fisheries globally. This study emphasizes the role of small-scale fishers as a source of diverse ecological experiences and perceptions to complement knowledge on sensitive conservation issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The largest population of Humboldt Penguins resides in a fertile archipelago of the north-central coast of Chile, formed by eight islands in proximity to upwelling centers of the Humboldt Current System. However, five of these islands lack legal protection. Here, we report the results of breeding Humboldt Penguins tracked while foraging from Tilgo Island. The average and maximum foraging radii around the colony were 22 km and 43 km, respectively. Our data indicate that trip ranges overlap areas proposed for industrial projects. Because Humboldt Penguins are sentinels of local ecosystem health, this underscores the value of expanding conservation zones in this unique marine location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In South America, Kelp Gulls (LARUS dominicanus) breed from Chilean Tierra del Fuego north to Río de Janeiro, Brazil, on the Atlantic coast and to Piura, Peru, on the Pacific coast. This review presents the first synthesis of information on the distribution and size of Kelp Gull colonies at the country level in coastal environments of Uruguay, Chile and Peru; provides an update on the breeding situation of the species in Brazil and Argentina; and allows the first evaluation of the overall coastal breeding population in South America. The breeding population in South America is now estimated to number at least 160,000 pairs. The largest population (at least 106,000 breeding pairs) is found in Argentina. Colonies of more than 1,000 pairs are uncommon. Population trends differed among coastal sectors, and important increases in numbers and formation of new colonies were only observed in Argentina. Available information suggests that predictable and abundant anthropogenic food subsidies, such as fishery discards and urban waste, are key factors contributing to the population growth in some coastal sectors. There is no strong evidence that Kelp Gulls are currently expanding their breeding range. However, given the population expansion in some areas and the potential conflicts with humans, ongoing monitoring efforts and population evaluations are necessary as they will provide the information required to support management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gray Gull ( Leucophaeus modestus) has the unique habit among gulls of nesting in the interior Atacama Desert, up to 100 km from the coast. During the 2014-2015 austral breeding season, two breeding colonies were recorded on the coast within 90 m of the shoreline in the Antofagasta Region, northern Chile. The new colonies ranged in size from 40 (Playa Grande) to 150 (Playa Brava) nests. Egg laying was synchronous in both colonies and most likely occurred in late November 2014, coinciding with egg laying in desert colonies. The colony at Playa Brava was successful, but the one at Playa Grande was deserted due to feral dog ( Canis familiaris) attacks. The habitat used by Gray Gulls resembled that reported for desert colonies, with flat plains covered with small rocks, which provide protection to chicks from intense solar radiation. This unusual coastal nesting behavior could result in the modification of certain life history and behavioral traits in the Gray Gull (e.g., chick growth rates, energy expenditure, and foraging ranges), which have evolved to breed in severe desert conditions. We suggest that coastal breeding is adopted by Gray Gulls during El Niño years in response to reduced food supply. During El Niño years, Gray Gulls would move to the coast where access to food is better and thermoregulatory costs are lower, but predation is higher. During non-El Niño years, Gray Gulls would resume their ancestral desert-nesting strategy in which traveling distances between the coast and nesting grounds are considerable and thermoregulatory costs are higher, but predation risks are lower. Future observations should confirm if Gray Gulls continue breeding at coastal sites during El Niño years or if this becomes a regular behavior independent of oceanographic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abundances and composition of marine litter and seabirds were estimated in the central South Pacific (SP) Ocean between the Chilean continental coast and the Easter Island Ecoregion. Litter was dominated by plastics throughout the study area, but the proportion of plastics was higher at sea and on the oceanic islands than in coastal waters and on continental beaches. Litter densities were higher close to the center of the SP subtropical gyre compared to the continental coast. The seabird assemblage was diverse (28 species), and several endemic species were recorded. Seabird abundances were higher in the coastal waters and around Juan Fernández Islands off the continental coast than in the Oceanic and Polynesian sectors. Endangered species breeding on Salas & Gómez Island were observed in the Polynesian sector, which suggests a high potential for negative interactions between seabirds and floating litter, both occurring in high densities in this sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses findings of a study to evaluate species abundance distribution of the Humboldt Penguin or Spheniscus humboldti in Peru and Chile. It notes the impact of the El Niño climate phenomenon on the breeding colonies of Humboldt Penguin in La Foca Island, Peru and in Metalui Island, Chile. It confirms that while Humboldt Penguin population in Punta San Juan, Peru decreased by 51 percent from 1980 to 2008, it increased by 89 percent in Chañaral Island, Chile.

The article presents a study that deals with the succession of fouling communities on abiotic floating substrata. It examines how rugosity, buoyancy and floating behaviour affect colonization and community succession on these substrata. It conducts three experiments in the field of 14 weeks. It reveals diatoms, Ulvales, and clonal ascidians from the genus Diplosoma as the most common colonizers in all three experiments. It cites the influence of positional changes on colonization and succession on floating.

Abstract: Anthropogenic marine debris (AMD) is an ubiquitous problem, which has motivated public participation in activities such as beach surveys and clean-up campaigns. While it is known that beaches in the SE Pacific are also affected by this problem, the quantities and types of AMD remain largely unknown. In the context of an outreach project, volunteers (∼1500 high-school students) participated in a nation-wide survey of AMD on 43 beaches distributed randomly along the entire Chilean coast (18°S to 53°S). The mean density of AMD was 1.8 items m−2 and the major types were plastics, cigarette butts and glass. Densities in central Chile were lower than in northern and southern Chile, which could be due to different attitudes of beach users or to intense beach cleaning in central regions. We suggest that public participation in surveys and cleaning activities will raise awareness and thereby contribute to an improvement of the situation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report a specimen record of a Broad-billed Prion found during a beached-bird survey in northern Chile on 28 February 2014. The carcass was in an advanced state of decomposition and the cause of death was unknown. Identification was based on morphological comparison with other prions. This record confirms the species'occurrence offshore of Chile and emphasizes the importance of beached-bird surveys to increase knowledge about the dispersal of vagrant seabirds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic impact has been heavy in remote oceanic islands, including the introduction of alien species, having negative effects on native seabirds. The isolated and subtropical Rapa Nui (Easter Island) is one of the few known breeding sites of the red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda in Chile (southeastern Pacific Ocean) where is listed as vulnerable. A relatively new breeding colony is found in the Rano Raraku volcano, where human-introduced species are present. We used hen eggs as a proxy for red-tailed tropicbird eggs to assess potential predation risk on unattended eggs. Each experimental egg was monitored by camera traps during 6 days. Three predatory species were identified on the records: the Brown rat Rattus norvegicus, the Polynesian rat Rattus exulans, and the raptor Chimango Caracara Phalcoboenus chimango. The most frequent species were the Rattus spp. A total of 45 predatory visits were recorded with a total time of 1.7 h, accounting for the 0.3% of the experimental time. Within this time of visits, all the potential predators spent time in both interacting activities (trying to prey on) and no-interacting activities with the experimental eggs. Only a Brown rat was able to prey on one of the eggs. Our results suggest that these invasive species are a low threat for unattended red-tailed tropicbird eggs at Rano Raraku, Rapa Nui. However, future research is needed to determine the potential negative effects over unattended red-tailed tropicbird nestlings that are easier for these predators to handle compared with an egg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]