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This research analyzes patterns of scientific production, citation and collaborative networks under three relationships (researcher/researcher, researcher/center, and researcher/country), of the most productive researchers of four Latin American Marine Research Centers (MICs) over a 20-year period (2000-2020) from a bibliometric perspective. The Scopus search engine was used for the respective bibliometric analyses. In total, 57 most productive researchers were identified among the four centers; 5, 7, 14and 31 for Centro i~mar, IOUSP, IICYM and CICESE, respectively. In two (i~mar and IICYM) of the four centers, researchers(AB) and (OI) recorded the highest number of publications, and were also the most cited; however, this pattern did not hold truefor IOUSP and CICESE researchers. e collaboration network among the most productive researchers is segmented in certaindefined groups, which causes a lack of internal cooperation among them, especially in Centro i~mar and IOUSP. In addition, it was evidenced that the most productive researchers concentrate their collaborations with other researchers belonging to Universities, Institutions or Centers of their own country, and very scarcely with international Centers, being their international cooperation conservative which in turn demonstrates scientific autonomy, and does not require external partners to make their research visible. This research contributes with the knowledge of the most productive centers and is the basis for future studies that suggests orienting and extending the analysis of the productivity of researchers with fewer publications and citations, as well as the analysisof their internal collaboration network.

The Hirsch´s h-index is a new bibliometric indicator that has been considered useful to evaluate the scientific productivity of individual researchers and scientific journals. This paper uses it to evaluate the productivity of the 15 research universities of Chile. Since in Chile public rankings of perception of their universities are begining to be common, the article relates the h-index with a pair of rankings based on the prestige that the potential employers and students of the last level of secondary education have of them. I found that both rankings of perception were related and the same happened when they were associated to the h-index of Hirsch. The association was greater for the ranking based on the perception by potential students at those universities.

RESUMEN Examinamos los factores que influyen en la selección de presas por perros callejeros en el humedal Estero Culebrón (Coquimbo, Chile) y caracterizamos sus ataques durante 20 visitas en el año 2015. Utilizamos modelos lineales generalizados considerando el tamaño del ave, su abundancia relativa, el sitio y tipo de sustrato como variables explicativas. Registramos una jauría de siete individuos que realizaron 34 ataques sobre aves, de las cuales el pelícano presentó la mayor frecuencia de predación. El tamaño del ave y el sitio se relacionaron positivamente con los ataques. La selección del pelícano como presa podría estar relacionada con su baja distancia de inicio de vuelo y su gran tamaño, lo que facilitaría el ataque de los perros y, además, este mayor tamaño podría sostener energéticamente a la jauría, especialmente cuando es numerosa. Otras condiciones como la ausencia de totora (Typha angustipholia) y la baja profundidad del agua en el sector playa, facilitarían el desarrollo de los ataques al reducir los obstáculos a la persecución. Por último, debido al peligro que representan estos animales para las personas y la fauna de los humedales, es urgente desarrollar planes de manejo que consideren su retiro y traslado a centros de rescate, así como de implementar campañas de esterilización y educación. ABSTRACT We examine the factors that influence the selection of prey by stray dogs in the Estero Culebrón wetland (Coquimbo, Chile) and characterize their attacks during 20 visits in 2015. We use generalized lineal models considering the size of the bird, its relative abundance, site and type of substrate as explanatory variables. We recorded a pack of seven individuals who carried out 34 attacks on birds, of which the pelican had the highest predation frequency. The size of the bird and the site were positively related to the attacks. The selection of the pelican as prey could be related to its low flight initiation distance and large size, which facilitates the attack by dogs and, in addition, this greater size could sustain energetically to pack of dogs, especially when they are numerous. Other conditions such the absence of cattail (Typha angustipholia) and low water depth at the beach sector, would facilitate the development of attacks by reducing obstacles to persecution. Finally, due to the danger that these animals represent for the people and the fauna of wetlands, it is urgent to develop management plans that consider the retirement and transfer of them to rescue centers, as well as to implement sterilization and education campaigns.

The imperial cormorant (Phalacrocorax atriceps) is one of the most abundant cormorant species in the Chilean channels and fjords. Although its reproductive and non-reproductive distributions have been studied, works on its diet are inexistent. This paper describes the diet and determines the dominance and diversity of the prey consumed during the winter periods of 2011 and 2014 in Caulín Bay, Chiloé, southern Chile. A total of 73 pellets were collected (30 in 2011 and 43 in 2014). Prey were identified and classified into three categories: fishes (53.57%), cephalopods (39.29%) and crustaceans (7.14%). When prey consumption was analyzed according to their distribution in the water column, we observed statistically significant differences in a preference of benthic demersal over pelagic prey.

The imperial cormorant (Phalacrocorax atriceps) is one of the most abundant cormorant species in the Chilean channels and fjords. Although its reproductive and non-reproductive distributions have been studied, works on its diet are inexistent. This paper describes the diet and determines the dominance and diversity of the prey consumed during the winter periods of 2011 and 2014 in Caulín Bay, Chiloé, southern Chile. A total of 73 pellets were collected (30 in 2011 and 43 in 2014). Prey were identified and classified into three categories: fishes (53.57%), cephalopods (39.29%) and crustaceans (7.14%). When prey consumption was analyzed according to their distribution in the water column, we observed statistically significant differences in a preference of benthic demersal over pelagic prey.

RESUMEN La manipulación con fines científicos de vertebrados terrestres en poblaciones naturales chilenas se debe realizar previa autorización del SAG y de Comités de Bioética institucionales. Obtener dichas autorizaciones es cada vez más complejo; los trámites no se adecúan al quehacer científico ni al conocimiento sobre el efecto de la manipulación en las poblaciones naturales. El objetivo de este comentario es contribuir a una discusión en pos del establecimiento de una normativa de manipulación científica de vertebrados terrestres ajustada a la realidad biológica y que no entorpezca la investigación científica. ABSTRACT In Chile, the manipulation for scientific purposes of terrestrial vertebrates from natural populations is conducted previous authorization of the Agricultural and Livestock Service and various Bioethics Committees. Obtaining such authorizations is becoming increasingly complex. The procedures do not fit the reality of scientific work, and they seem to be based on unjustified assessments of the effects of animal handling on natural populations. The aim of this commentary is to initiate a discussion in order to establish a norm of scientific manipulation of terrestrial vertebrates adjusted to biological reality and that does not interfere with scientific research.