Table Of ContentISSN 0373-5680 Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. 68 (1-2): 145-154, 2009 145
Capacity building for freshwater insect studies in
northern Patagonia, Argentina: DARWIN Initiative
programme
BROOKS, Stephen J.*, Luis M. HERNÁNDEZ*, Julieta
MASSAFERRO**, Gustavo R. SPINELLI*** & Malcolm PENN*
* Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK; e-mail:
[email protected]
**INIBIOMA /CONICET, 8400 Bariloche, Argentina
***Museo de Ciencias Naturales de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, 1900 La Plata, Argentina
Biodiversidad de insectos acuáticos en Patagonia Norte,
Argentina: programa Iniciativa DARWIN
RESUMEN. Este proyecto fue financiado durante un período de tres
años, desde septiembre de 2006 a través de la Iniciativa Darwin del gobierno
Británico. El objetivo de este trabajo es el estudio de los insectos acuáticos
del Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi (PNNHP), Patagonia, Argentina. El
parque incluye una gran variedad de hábitats que comprenden arroyos, ríos
y lagos los cuales se distribuyen desde el bosque siempreverde frío, hasta la
zona árida de estepa. Todo el material será identificado y depositado en las
colecciones del Museo La Plata y el Museo de Historia Natural de Londres. Los
fondos de la Iniciativa Darwin han sido utilizados para equipar un laboratorio
de biodiversidad en las oficinas del PNNHP en Bariloche y la estación de
investigación en Puerto Blest. Toda la información de los insectos acuáticos y
las distintas formaciones vegetales donde éstos se han encontrado, se incluirá
en una base de datos (la primera de su tipo en Patagonia) que utilizará la
metodología GIS para analizar patrones de distribución de las especies en
el parque. En estos momentos se están produciendo varias guías de campo
para identificar los insectos acuáticos del PNNHP. Es nuestro deseo que los
resultados obtenidos en este proyecto, contribuyan a la conservación de los
sistemas acuáticos en Argentina y América del Sur.
PALABRAS CLAVE. Iniciativa Darwin. Patagonia. Insectos Acuáticos.
ABSTRACT. This project was funded from September 2006 for three
years by the British Government’s Darwin Initiative programme. The focus of
our project is the study of aquatic insects from Nahuel Huapi National Park
(NHNP) in Patagonia, Argentina. The park includes a wide range of wetlands,
including montane streams, lowland lakes and marshes, distributed within
temperate rainforest and arid steppe. The material will be identified and stored
in a fully referenced and accessible collection at La Plata Museum and the
Natural History Museum, London. Darwin Initiative funding has been used to
equip a biodiversity laboratory at National Park Headquarters in Bariloche and
also a field station at Puerto Blest. Information on the insect species in NHNP
will be entered into a GIS database, together with a vegetation classification
and wetland characteristics, to model freshwater insect data spatially and
create a biodiversity database, the first of its kind in Patagonia. We hope
Recibido: 16-II-2009; aceptado: 25-III-2009
146 Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. 68 (1-2): 145-154, 2009
that the experiences we gain during the project, the insect collections and
databases, the publications, and the many other products, will be used to
further enhance wetland conservation throughout Argentina and southern
South America.
KEY WORDS. Darwin Initiative. Patagonia. Aquatic Insects.
INTRODUCTION children and non-specialists, through the
production of specialist and non-specialist
Darwin Initiative. The Darwin Initiative identification guides, and through media
programme is one of the responses by the exposure. The projects are expected to
British Government to the Rio Earth Summit leave a lasting legacy in the host country
in 1992 and Convention on Biodiversity. and promote sustainable use of biodiversity
Funds are provided through the Darwin resources.
Initiative by the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to ‘assist those Focus and aims of the project. The
countries which are rich in biodiversity but location of the project under consideration
poor in financial resources to implement the in this paper is the Nahuel Huapi National
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Park (NHNP), in northern Patagonia, which
through the funding of collaborative projects surrounds the Argentinean resort town of
which draw on UK biodiversity expertise’. Bariloche. The focus of the project is on the
Funds have been made available on an biodiversity of freshwater insects in NHNP.
annual basis since 1992 and, since 2005, The primary aims of the project are to a)
after the launch of Phase II of the Darwin compile an inventory of freshwater insects
Initiative, £7 million a year was committed that occur in NHNP and map this onto
to the programme. vegetation zones using GIS; b) assemble a
The focus of the Darwin Initiative, as curated and accessible reference collection of
specified on the programme website (http:// freshwater insects from NHNP at the Museo
darwin.defra.gov.uk), has been on projects de Ciencias Naturales de La Plata (UNLP);
that: c) facilitate scientific study of the freshwater
• assist countries rich in biodiversity but insect fauna of NHNP by equipping a field
poor in resources with the conservation of station and laboratory in NHNP; d) promote
biological diversity and implementation the understanding of freshwater insects in
of the Biodiversity Convention; Patagonia by providing specialist papers
• draw on British expertise in the field and identification guides; e) encourage the
of biodiversity; next generation of freshwater ecologists by
• are collaborative, involving either providing taxonomic, ecological and field
local institutions or communities in the courses to post graduate students; f) promote
host country; greater awareness of the importance and
• have a real impact on the ability of sustainable use of wetlands in the region by
the host country to meet its obligations the provision of non-specialist field guides,
under the Biodiversity Convention; posters and courses.
• are of high quality and scientific We hope that the approach we have taken
excellence. in this project to promote awareness and
The emphasis placed by the Darwin greater understanding of wetland biodiversity
Initiative is on projects that improve the will be used as a model in other parts of
understanding in the host country of South America and we will welcome the
biodiversity through research, and promote opportunity to collaborate with colleagues
the study of biodiversity through the initiation and share our experiences. Funding for the
of training programmes for students, school project is available between September
BROOKS, S. J. et al. Capacity building for freshwater insects 147
2006 and August 2009, but we hope that There have already been some studies of
this will be just the start of a long-lasting the terrestrial elements of the biota but little
legacy of wetlands research, conservation is known about the freshwater insects, so
and awareness in the region. baseline data is essential against which any
future changes can be compared. The Puerto
Project background. At present, Blest field station, situated in the heart of the
the freshwater insect fauna in northern Andean forest near Bariloche, was built by
Patagonia is poorly known and knowledge Universidad del Comahue in 2005 but needs
and interest is constrained by a lack of equipping to be fully functional. It is one
adequate identification guides and reference goal of this project to develop Puerto Blest
collections. In addition, there is poor public field station into a centre for the study of
understanding of the importance of wetlands freshwater ecosystems and the interpretation
for biodiversity and in providing basic of wetland ecosystems.
human needs. Freshwater insect biodiversity There is currently poor knowledge of
in Argentina is threatened by human the regional fauna and flora of NHNP and
impacts, especially nutrient enrichment the area is inadequately mapped so the
and habitat modification. Even in National full extent of wetlands is unknown. The
Parks, increasing pressure from tourism project will provide an infrastructure for the
poses a threat. Our project will address these collection of freshwater insect biodiversity
issues by: (a) building infrastructure in the data and vegetation associations. This
Nahuel Huapi National Park, which has baseline data, against which future changes
been identified as one of the most important can be assessed, is essential because of the
conservation areas in Argentinean Patagonia; increasing pressure of tourism and fishing in
(b) providing a wetland interpretation centre the NHNP area and because of the possible
where tourists, sport fishermen, students impacts of climate change. The current lack
and researchers will be able to study of awareness of conservation issues in local
freshwater insects and understand their role communities will be addressed by training
in freshwater ecosystems; (c) developing programmes and interpretive material that
identification guides, reference collections will be available at Puerto Blest. These
and an inventory of freshwater insects for the are prerequisites for the conservation of
National Park. Patagonian wetlands.
The Nahuel Huapi National Park (NHNP) The project will provide a detailed
is a biodiversity hotspot in northern Patagonia database of freshwater insects from NHNP.
(Fig. 1) where Sub-Antarctic rainforest meets The species distribution data will be linked
Valdivian rainforest. These forests are isolated to a vegetation classification using GIS and
from other similar forests within South digital imaging to model freshwater insect
America by orographic and climatic barriers. data spatially and create a biodiversity data
As a consequence, they have evolved a rich repository, the first of its kind in Patagonia.
and largely endemic biota. In addition, NHNP A fully curated synoptic reference collection
includes the ecotone between temperate of freshwater insects from NHNP will be
montane rainforest and arid steppe, which established at the Puerto Blest field station
further increases the biodiversity of the for use by student classes. The remaining
region. Consequently, NHNP contains a wide material will be deposited in the Natural
diversity of wetland habitats. This pristine History Museum, London (NHM) and Museo
area is ideal for biodiversity and conservation de Ciencias Naturales de La Plata (UNLP) and
studies. The area attracts many national and will be used to develop identification guides
international tourists including eco-tourists, to freshwater insects of the region. These
sport fishermen and skiers and the National guides will be multi-tiered from technical
Park Authority (APN) is concerned about keys to simple identification charts for use
the impacts of increased tourist pressure by visitors to the park, sport fishermen and
and climate change on these ecosystems. community groups. These latter products
148 Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. 68 (1-2): 145-154, 2009
Fig. 1. Map showing the Nahuel Huapi National Park area. 83 sites were sampled in the North, 182
sites in the Centre and in 2009, new sites (23, 24 and 25) will be sampled in the southern part of the
NHNP.
will be used to generate interest in wetland research projects and learn about wetland
conservation in local communities. The biodiversity. Results will be disseminated
field station will be developed for use as an through scientific publications, a dedicated
interpretive centre for wetlands promoting website, posters and simple identification
the value and sustainable use of wetlands to charts, as well as local and national media.
non-specialist visitors to the park. The centre
will be equipped with microscopes, PCs and Project Partnerships. The project
necessary infrastructure for its use by students involves the close collaboration and
from schools and universities to carry out cooperation of biologists and conservationists
BROOKS, S. J. et al. Capacity building for freshwater insects 149
drawn from several institutions in Britain and therefore the reader should consult them for
Argentina, who bring complementary skills more details.
and expertise. The lead UK institution is the
Natural History Museum, London (NHM) Location. The NHNP and the National
which is the base for Stephen Brooks (project Reserve Nahuel Huapi are located between
leader, and specialist in Chironomidae, the latitude 40º8’ and 41º35’ south and
Odonata, Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera), longitude 71º2’ and 71º57’ west. It occupies
Luis M. Hernández (specialist in Simuliidae) approximately 710,000 ha and was the
and Malcolm Penn (specialist in GIS and first national park to be declared as such
forest botany). The lead institute in Argentina in Argentina, when it was donated to the
is Museo de Ciencias Naturales de La Plata country by Dr. Francisco P. Moreno in 1903
(UNLP), which is the base for Gustavo (Fig. 1). The park is part of a continuous series
Spinelli (in-country leader, Ceratopogonidae of protected areas that extend for more than
specialist) and Mariano Donato (specialist one million hectares including Lanin National
in Chironomidae). Others actively engaged Park in the north and Puyehue National park
in the project are Miguel Archangelsky towards the west in Chile. Towards the south,
(specialist in Coleoptera) and Pablo Pessacq it is limited by the Rio Manso Inferior and to
(specialist in Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera) the east by the rivers Villegas, Ñirihuau, and
from Universidad de la Patagonia, Esquel, Limay. Within the park are located the towns
Chubut (UNP), and Javier Muzón (specialist of San Carlos de Bariloche (22.000 ha), Villa
in Heteroptera and Odonata) from Instituto de La Angostura (8000 ha), and Villa Mascardi
Limnologia, La Plata (ILPLA). Administración and Traful (600 ha), making it one of the most
Parques Nacionales (APN) is another key complex in Argentina from the point of view
partner, where the lead contact is Susana of conservation and management. Within
Seijas, who provide essential logistical the park there are three distinct ecological
support for fieldwork, including access units that are representatives of one the most
to sites, use of vehicles and support from extreme ecological gradients in the world:
Rangers, and provision of meetings rooms High-Andean, Andean-Patagonic Forests
and the space in which we have set up (which also includes sectors of Valdivian
the Biodiversity Laboratory. The final main Forests), and Patagonia Steppe (see Table I).
partner is Centro Regional Universitario
Bariloche (CRUB/UNC), from where Julieta Climate. The main characteristics of
Massaferro coordinates the project on the the Nahuel Huapi landscape are defined by
ground and Karin Heinemann, who manages climatic changes dating from the Tertiary and
the Puerto Blest field station. Two staff are Quaternary periods. The last ice mass started
employed directly by the project, Fernanda retreating around 13000 yrs and the transition
Montes de Oca and Analia Garré. In addition, between the different environmental units
several post-graduate students based at have not changed much to the present day.
the cooperating Argentinean institutes, are The temperature and precipitation varies
working on research directly involved with within the three main ecological units within
the project. the Park.
In NHNP the annual precipitations
STUDY AREA decrease markedly from west (4000 mm in
Puerto Blest) to east (500 mm Rio Limay) in
The Nahuel Huapi National Park less than 100 km. This is due to the steep
- basic details. The characterisation of relief of the mountain range in this area. This
climate, drainage, geology, topography, and phenomenon is also known as “sombra de
vegetation follows the publications of Martin lluvia” [rain shadow] with 60% of the rainfall
& Mermoz (2005) and Monjeau (2006). occurring mainly between May-August. The
However, here we have only summed up the average temperature ranges from 8ºC in the
most relevant information from those papers, lowlands and 3ºC in the higlands in winter.
150 Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. 68 (1-2): 145-154, 2009
TABLE I. Main ecological units in Nahuel Huapi National Park following Monejau (2006).
EcologicalUnits Environment Surface(Km2) %ofthePark
High-Andean 1400 19
Forests(including HumidForests 4600 60(14%iscoveredbylakes)
ValdivianForest)
TransitionForests
1070 15
Steppe LowreliefedSteppe* 208 2.74
HighreliefedSteppe*
248 3.26
* Low reliefed steppe and high reliefed steppe was classified based on topography and not vegetation.
In summer the temperature varies between coast. There are many other lakes in NHNP
33ºC during the day to 15ºC at night. for example Traful (the second largest with
The High-Andean unit has a cold and 76 km2), Espejo, Correntoso, Gallardo and
humid climate, and precipitation varies Gutiérrez. It is at the end of Lake Gutiérrez
between 1200 to 2000 mm mainly in the that the division between the Atlantic and
winter months. Within this unit areas of the Pacific is located.
permafrost are found above 2200 m altitude; The Manso River Basin is located to the
these tend to disappear towards the east south of the Park, and it is formed by streams
because of the low altitude of the Andes. of glacial origin. This system originates at the
Here the mean temperature is 2.4ºC with point where three of the four glacier branches
temperature reaching 0ºC between July merge at Cerro Tronador. The basin is divided
and September. In the rainforest subunit in Manso Superior, Manso Medio and Manso
the climate is temperate and humid with Inferior, which delimit the extreme south of
temperatures of 8ºC in low areas and 5.5ºC the Park. The waters of Manso Superior open
at high altitude. In the area of transitional into Lake Mascardi, reaching via the Manso
forests (ecotones) the temperature is similar Medio the Guillelmo, Fonck, Roca, Felipe
to the rainforest unit. However, precipitations and Martin Lakes. The Manso Inferior River
are scarce only reaching 1200 to 800 mm a joins the Villegas River, which crosses the
year. The climate in the Steppe is temperate Andes to Chile through Portillo de Cochamó.
and semi-arid with annual temperatures of In Chile it joins the Puelo River, opening into
8ºC and precipitations of 1000 to 600 mm. the Pacific Ocean.
Drainage. One of the main characteristics Geology. The North Patagonia geological
of the drainage in NHNP is that the rivers province is located between latitude 39º
reach the Pacific Ocean via the Manso River to 43º south. The topography is mainly
Basin, and the Atlantic Ocean via Limay River mountanous and glacial origin. The most
Basin, the latter being the most important extreme altitudinal gradients within the park
river in the park, which also includes the are located in the valleys of the Rio Manso
Nahuel Huapi Lake. This lake is one of the Inferior (500 m) and the Cerro Tronador
largest in Argentina expanding over 560 (3,554 m). However, most of the area of the
km2. The Rio Limay, which originates at the park is situated between 700 and 800 m. In
east of the lake, joins the Neuquén River to general, the soils are not well developed and
form the Negro River reaching the Atlantic have originated from volcanic ashes (Andisol
BROOKS, S. J. et al. Capacity building for freshwater insects 151
Table II. Classification of the vegetation in the Nahuel Huapi National Park by Martin & Mermoz
(2005).
Vegetationtypes Dominantspecies Height(m)atwhich
dominant arefound
ColihueForest Nothofagusdombeyi 1000-1100m
CiprésForest Austrocedruschilsensis 1100m
LengaForest Nothofaguspumilio 1000-1500m
Nireforest,andtallforestof Nothofagusantarctica Below1200m
Nire
SmallforestsofNireand/or Nothofagu ntarctica,Chusqueaculeou Between1100-1400m
Caña
LowforestofLenga Nothofaguspumilio 1600-1700m
Semidesertathighaltitude Poatristigmatica,Festucamontiola,Seneciosp., 1500-1600m
Nassuaviasp.
HerbaceousSteppe Stipaspeciosa,Mulinumspinossum,Festucapallecens 750-800mtill1400m
LowreliefedSteppe Discariaarticulata,Berberisbuxifolia Below1100m
LowreliefedSteppewith Discariaarticulata,Berberisbuxifolia,Lomatiahirsuta, -
dispersetrees Maytenusboaria,Austrocedruschilensis
SavannahsofHighAltitude Mostlyherbaceousplants 1000-1400m
Areasmodifiedbyruraland Plantago,Holcus,Rumex,Poa,Trifolium -
urbansettlements
soils) with a high content of allophane. steppe, the modifying forces are more due to
This province is composed of metamorphic the action of water than to glaciers. This can
and magma rocks of several ages. On top be seen by the change of valley profiles from
of these rocks volcanic sediments were the classic “U” to “V” shape. In the steppe
deposited during the Mesozoic and Tertiary. several process of sedimentation coexist,
At the same time, other sediments of and two geoforms can be recognized, the
volcanic origins were deposited by the end low reliefed steppe and high reliefed steppe.
of the Tertiary and Quaternary together with
elements of glacial origin. The formation of Vegetation. The dominant landscape in
the Andino-Patagonia mountain range was the NHNP is the Patagonia Forest that has a
completed in the Miocene approximately close phylogenetic relationship with eastern
15 millions years ago. More recently, Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and
volcanic activity gave rise to the domes of other areas in the Oriental Region. Martin
Tertiary basaltic sediments of high altitude, & Mermoz (2005) stated that there are 14
such as the Cerro Tronador, the highest types of vegetation zones in the park, of
point in NHNP. By the end of the Tertiary which the forests of Coihue (Nothofagus
and throughout the Quaternary dramatic dombeyi), Ciprés (Austrocedrus chilensis),
fluctuations of the climate occurred bringing Lenga (N. pumilio), Ñire (N. antarctica), and
about glacial and interglacial periods that the Caña Colihue (Chusquea coleou) are
modified the landscape and the drainage of predominant (see Table II). However, a new
the region. Volcanic and seismic activity is characterization of the vegetation of the park
still common in NHNP. is being carried out at present by Malcolm
In the High Andean zone, at 1600 m Penn, one of the authors of this study.
there is an “archipelago” of steep mountains
that extended beyond the frozen cover of In the High-Andean ecological unit the
the mountain during the period of glacial vegetation is of semi-desert with species
maxima. It is here that most streams and rivers such as Poa tritigmatica, Luzula chilensis,
originate, starting mainly with a small lake Senecio sp. and Nassuvia sp. There are also
or lagoon of high altitude. The ecological hydrophilic species near water bodies, e.g.
unit of humid forest was covered by ice less Abrotanella diemii, Senecio carbonensis and
than 10,000 years ago, which gave rise to Menovillea hirsute. Below this unit, the “forest
different types of soil. At the ecotone forest- line” is formed by a monospecific forest of
152 Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. 68 (1-2): 145-154, 2009
Lenga, which changes in height with altitude. flotsam sampling the aquatic biotopes; and
It varies from a small bush near rocks at 1700 light trapping, flight interception trapping
m to trees of more than 20 m at 1000 m of and sweep netting the terrestrial vegetation
altitude. The understorey of the Lenga forest adjacent to the wetlands.
is formed by species such as Drimys winteri, The fieldwork seasons are between
Maytenus disticha and Chusquea coleou. November and March in each of the three
At the level of 1100 m species of Colihue years of the project. During the first season,
with an understorey of Caña Colihue can wetlands in the central part of the park were
be found. The area surrounding Puerto Blest sampled. Sites in the north of the park were
is the main representative of the Valdivian sampled during the second field season and
Forest in the park, and here it is common sites in the south will be sampled in the final
to find Alerce (Fitzroya cuppresoides) and field season. Specimens collected by hand
Cipres de las Guayteca (Pilgerodendron from the aquatic biotopes are preserved in
uviferum) in the mallines [=swamplands], 80% ethanol in the field. Specimens of larval
as they are locally known. The vegetation of and pupal Simuliidae and Chironomidae
the mallines is mainly herbaceous, which is are also collected alive for rearing in the
densely distributed. Another type of forest in laboratory so that immature stages can be
this area is the Ñire forests, which can grow associated with the adult stages. A full list
from 2 to 10 m. of the environmental data and other details
In the ecotone forest-steppe (the transition and photographs were collected at each
forest) the distribution of the forests is limited sampling site. Malaise traps are positioned
due to a dryer climate that appears to make in suitable locations and serviced every 15
this forest more isolated. The forests of Lenga days. Light traps are run for one night. Trap-
are only found in pockets to the south and to collected specimens are sorted into order or
the east of the park. The forest of Ñire has a family level in the laboratory.
wider ecological range forming small pockets
together with Schinus patagoniucs, Berberis Reference collection and database.
spp., Colettia spinossima and maitenes Specimens identified by the specialist
(Maytenus boaria). Other bushes appear in taxonomists are curated, referenced and
the steppe, where precipitations are less than stored at UNLP. A supplementary collection
600 mm, e.g. Discaria articulata, Berberis will be deposited at NHM, but all primary type
buxifolia and Fabiana imbricata. material will be permanently deposited at
UNLP. All the specimens and environmental
ACTIVITIES AND OUTPUTS OF THE information are being databased and cross-
PROJECT referenced into a GIS, which also includes
a vegetation classification system, and this is
The specific results of the project will be being used to model freshwater insect data
described in deeper detail in some of the spatially and create the first biodiversity
accompanying papers. The intention here database of its kind in Patagonia.
is to illustrate the scope of the project by
outlining our approach and major outputs. Infrastructure. Darwin Initiative funding
has been used to purchase furniture,
Field work. Insects are being sampled laboratory and IT equipment for the
from a representative range of wetland Puerto Blest field station and a biodiversity
biotopes throughout NHNP. These include laboratory in Bariloche. The Puerto Blest
montane and lowland streams, lakes and field station includes a laboratory, meetings
marshes, distributed within temperate room, kitchen and two small dormitories.
rainforest and arid steppe. Both adult and The Biodiversity Laboratory is currently
larval stages of the freshwater insects are being used for processing the material
being sampled using the appropriate methods collected during the project. Both facilities
including kick sampling, sweep netting and will be available for use beyond the end of
BROOKS, S. J. et al. Capacity building for freshwater insects 153
the project and provide a valuable legacy for freshwater insects, freshwater ecology and
biodiversity studies in NHNP for the future. wetlands conservation, we are producing
Project funds have also been used to provide a series of scientific papers, popular and
facilities in UNLP for the long-term storage specialist books, pamphlets and posters on
of material collected during the project. In the freshwater insects of the region. Two
addition, a digital imaging system has been popular publications (Massaferro & Rojas,
purchased and installed at ILPLA. The system 2007; Darwin Initiative et al., 2007) are
uses high quality microscopy and software already available in local book shops,
that compiles a montage of a series of images APN offices and have also been distributed
taken sequentially through the focal plane to through local schools. We are currently
produce a crisply focused whole specimen preparing a wetlands interpretive display at
image. the APN information centre at Puerto Blest
which will introduce the work of the project
Outreach, training and education. and illustrate the biodiversity, ecology and
An important element of the project is to range of wetlands to be found in NHNP. The
promote awareness of the sustainable use project has generated a lot of media interest
and understanding of wetland ecosystems. and has been the focus of several articles in
Conservation of this fragile environment the national and local press, and members of
will not be possible unless this and the next the project team have been interviewed on
generation of adults value it. To achieve this we local and national television and radio. We
have been visiting local schools to introduce hope that this exposure will inform people
children to the insects that live in freshwaters about the objectives and achievements of the
by giving them the opportunity to use nets project, help to raise interest in freshwater
to collect them from ponds and streams, and insects and also in the importance and
examine the animals under microscopes. We urgency of wetlands conservation and what
have also run introductory courses for APN they can do to contribute to this.
Rangers and sport fishermen on freshwater
insect identification and ecology. Adults Transfer of biodiversity knowledge.
and children alike find these intimate views The Argentinean scientists working on the
into the vastly different worlds of freshwater project have visited the Natural History
insects awe-inspiring and it is then relatively Museum, London (NHM), on several
easy to enthuse them to develop this interest. occasions. This has provided them with the
APN Rangers have also been taught how opportunity of examining reference material
freshwater insects can be used to biomonitor and consulting literature that may not be
rivers and detect pollution incidents that easily to obtain in Argentina. Of particular
may not otherwise be apparent simply by importance are the type specimens in NHM
chemical analysis of the water. Seeing the collections which are essential to confirm
differences in abundance and diversity of the identity of material collected in the field
freshwater insects in adjacent stretches of in Argentina, and to verify the names of
polluted and unpolluted river is a graphic specimens from UNLP. The NHM collections
illustration of the impact that pollution can are especially rich in Diptera types collected
make. We have also run several workshops by F.W. Edwards (e.g., Edwards, 1931; Ingram
on freshwater insect identification and & Macfie, 1931) in the Bariloche region early
ecology for graduate and under-graduate in the 20th Century.
students. Both project field assistant staff The project scientists from NHM have
members are registered for higher degrees also made return visits to Argentina in order
research material collected by the project. to participate in field work and familiarise
The material is also forming the basis of four themselves with the various wetland habitats
additional PhD theses under supervision by in NHNP, collect data for GIS, train the
project partners. assistants employed on the project in field
To further encourage an interest in work and curation techniques, visit UNLP to
154 Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. 68 (1-2): 145-154, 2009
examine the collections of freshwater insects, and non-specialist audiences on freshwater
discuss logistic support from ANP and hold insects and the importance of wetlands for
project meetings with all the participants to biodiversity; 6) publishing field guides,
discuss progress and future developments manuals and papers for the identification of
and plan strategy. freshwater insects.
CONCLUSIONS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Darwin Initiative project has already We thank DEFRA and the Darwin Initiative
achieved some of its goals in the first 18 for funding project 15/025 “Capacity building
months of the project. An important reason for freshwater insect studies in northern
for this is the excellent esprit de corps that Patagonia, Argentina”.
has developed between the project partners
who have been supporting each other and
working closely together towards aims that LITERATURE CITED
were mutually agreed at the beginning of the
project. 1. DARWIN INITIATIVE. Nahuel Huapi National Park and
University of Comahue members. 2007. Fauna Nativa:
The project partnership has already
Invertebrados. Leaflet.
succeeded in its goals to support Argentinean 2. EDWARDS, F. W. 1931. Simuliidae. In: Diptera of Patagonia
and South Chile. British Museum (Natural History),
institutions to build capacity to meet CBD
London 2: 121-154.
commitments by: 1) providing resources 3. INGRAM, A. & J. W. MACFIE. 1931. Ceratopogonidae. In:
to equip and furnish the Puerto Blest field Diptera of Patagonia and South Chile. British Museum
(Natural History), London 2, 121-154.
station as a wetlands study and interpretive 4. MARTIN, C. E. & M. MERMOZ. 2005. Mapa de vegetación
centre; 2) furnishing and equipping a room del Parque y la Reserva Nacional Nahuel Huapi. An.
Parques Nacionales 27, 51-62.
as a biodiversity research laboratory in ANP
5. MASSAFERRO, J & F. ROJAS. 2007. Guía para la
headquarters; 3) training students and park identificación de macroinvertebrados acuáticos de
Patagonia. Freshwater Biological Association. Leaflet.
rangers to collect and identify freshwater
6. MONJEAU, A. 2006. Perfil de área protegida Argentina,
insects and in biomonitoring techniques; 4) Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi. Parks Watch,
providing baseline information about the Fortaleciendo las Areas Protegidas para Conservar la
Biodiversidad. ParksWatch [pdf unnumbered pages
distribution of freshwater insects in NHNP report].
to ANP; 5) providing courses to specialist
