Agregados Recientemente
Libro de resúmenes: II Congreso de Ciencia, Tecnología, Conocimiento e Innovación con Perspectiva de Género (CTCI + Género 2025)
(Red InES Género — Universidad de La Serena / Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, 2026-04-01) Campos, María Lourdes; Acuña, María José; Briones, Vilbett; Herrera, Heidi
Este libro reúne los resúmenes de las contribuciones presentadas en el II Congreso de Ciencia, Tecnología, Conocimiento e Innovación con Perspectiva de Género (CTCI + Género), organizado por la Red InES Género de la Universidad de La Serena y CienciaDiversa de la Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins. La obra da cuenta de la producción académica y científica presentada en el congreso, abordando temáticas vinculadas a la incorporación de la perspectiva de género en los sistemas de ciencia, tecnología, conocimiento e innovación en Chile.
Soli: la cazadora del desierto florido
(Universidad de La Serena, 2026-03-01) Pizarro-Araya, Jaime; Alegría, Valentina; Molina, Veronica
El libro presenta el desierto de Atacama como un ecosistema extremo que, bajo condiciones excepcionales de lluvia, da lugar al fenómeno del desierto florido, evidenciando la resiliencia de la vida en ambientes áridos. A través de la historia de Soli, una solífugo que recorre el desierto nocturno, se introduce a lectores jóvenes en la biodiversidad del norte de Chile, destacando el rol ecológico de diversas especies, muchas veces invisibilizadas. La obra combina narrativa, contenido educativo y recursos didácticos —como fotografías, actividades y un glosario— para explicar estrategias de adaptación y la importancia de la conservación de estos ecosistemas. Más que un relato, el libro busca fomentar la observación, el respeto por la naturaleza y el interés por la ciencia, posicionando al desierto de Atacama como un espacio vivo, diverso y culturalmente significativo.
Food habits of the Lesser grison Galictis cuja (Molina, 1782) in the Huasco coastal desert, Los Choros, northern Chile
(JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS, 2025-12) Zuleta-Ramos, C.; ZRau, JR.
The Lesser grison, Galictis cuja, is a carnivorous mammal widely distributed in South America. However, its conservation status and natural history are poorly understood throughout much of its range. In Chile, it is found in all regions of the country from deserts in the north to temperate rainforests in the south. This species is characterized as Rare in most of the habitats where it has been recorded. This study analyzed the diet of G. cuja in the Huasco coastal desert of the Coquimbo Region, northern Chile. Sixty-three fecal samples were collected in September 2010 (spring), which were then analyzed and categorized using keys and reference collections. Its diet was generalist, consisting of imago arthropods, larvae, and pupae, which represented 75 % of the prey consumed. Coleoptera of the family Tenebrionidae were the most frequently found trophic category in the diet. However, the Lesser grison also consumes wild rodents, which accounted for 25 % of its diet, with the Darwin leaf-eared mouse Phyllotis darwini (about 50 g) being the most frequent prey item. This suggests that their diet in this arid ecosystem is generalist, which could also be related to the resources available in a fluctuating environment.
Aridity Niche and Species Traits Mediate the Global Vulnerability of Passerine Birds
(GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, 2025-06) Petit, M.; Sayol, F.; Weideman, C.; Bertin, A.
Biodiversity is experiencing an unprecedented crisis, with intensifying global aridity representing a critical driver of species extinction. However, the extent to which species' preferences for specific aridity conditions and their tolerance to a range of aridity conditions influence their vulnerability remains poorly understood. Using data from 5558 passerine bird species, we examined how aridity niche affects current and projected extinction risks and whether these relationships are influenced by other ecological and life-history traits altering species persistence. Bayesian models revealed significant impacts of aridity niche position and breadth on both current and projected extinction risks, with these effects varying according to other species traits. Overall, aridity niche interacted with a wider range of traits for projected extinction risk than for current extinction risk, indicating a broader array of species requiring conservation attention in the future. Our results identified three key risk groups: (1) species preferring humid conditions, (2) species confined to arid zones with small clutch sizes, and (3) species with narrow aridity breadth and with low habitat breadth, short generation length, an omnivorous diet, and a full migrant strategy. By identifying passerine birds most at risk, our study offers critical insights for prioritizing conservation actions, guiding both geographic focus and the identification of species requiring more attention under the ongoing climate change.
Age-driven structural characteristics relate to epigeal arthropod communities in olive agroecosystems of the Atacama Desert
(AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT, 2025-06-15) Wallberg, BN.; Pizarro-Araya, J.; Alfaro, FM.; Calderón, JE.; Loayza, AP.
Intensive agriculture has led to a significant global decline of biodiversity. However, agroecosystems like olive groves can serve as biodiversity refuges, especially in arid environments, by acting as resource islands that promote the persistence of multiple species, including arthropods. The structural complexity and productivity of olive groves typically increase with age, enhancing their ability to sustain high biodiversity. In this study, we examined how epigeal arthropod diversity patterns vary across olive orchards of different ages in the Huasco Valley of Chile's Atacama Desert. We hypothesized that older olive orchards, with greater structural complexity and productivity, would harbor higher arthropod abundance, diversity, and distinct community compositions than a younger olive orchard. To test this hypothesis, we sampled epigeal arthropods in three olive orchards of different ages (young, intermediate, and centennial) using pitfall traps and characterized each orchard's structure and productivity (NDVI). Our findings indicate that olive orchard age is related to arthropod composition and abundance but not diversity. Young and intermediate olive orchards had higher arthropod abundance, dominated by isopods and hymenopterans, while entomophthorans and mites predominated in the centennial orchard. Each orchard harbored a unique arthropod community, with NDVI being a key factor in the centennial orchard, dry weed biomass in intermediate orchards, and leaf litter in young groves. These results suggest that the structural characteristics associated with olive orchard age play a crucial role in shaping arthropod communities in arid environments, highlighting the importance of habitat management within agroecosystems for promoting biodiversity.