Along the coast of Chubut, there is a sparsely traveled area where the sea imposes its rhythm and wildlife can maintain its ancestral balance. In the recently created Patagonia Azul Provincial Park, a group of researchers is developing monitoring and restoration programs that allow for a deeper understanding of the country’s marine biodiversity.
Ignacio “Nacho” Gutiérrez is the coordinator of the Patagonia Azul Project team of Rewilding Argentina. A conservationist accustomed to moving among colonies of sea lions and seabirds, he recounts that working in that environment involves immersing oneself in an uncommon experience.
“These are places where nature sets the rules. Although there has been human presence, the impact is often minimal, and one feels truly fortunate to contribute to the knowledge and conservation of these species.”
In the framework of the International Day for Biological Diversity, celebrated every May 22, these efforts take on an even clearer meaning: focusing on the natural wealth that often remains off the radar, and on concrete efforts to understand and protect it.
A natural space for the study of marine biodiversity
One of the main focuses of conservation work in this area is centered on the monitoring of marine species. Humpback and sei whales, for example, are regularly observed in embarked campaigns.
In each sighting, photographs are taken for individual identification and biopsies are collected for genetic studies. These analyses provide information on population structure, sex ratio, and possible relationships between individuals.
In addition to visual and genetic work, submerged hydrophones are used to capture the vocalizations of cetaceans. This allows for recording their presence even when they cannot be seen from the surface. In the future, the incorporation of satellite devices is planned to track the movements of some individuals in real-time.
The same approach is applied to several seabird species. During the breeding season, satellite transmitters or GPS are placed on Magellanic penguins, imperial cormorants, and southern giant petrels.
The goal is to understand in detail how they use the marine space during their life cycles. Colonies are also monitored using live streaming cameras, allowing for the observation of their reproductive behavior without interfering with their routine.
Restoration and monitoring of coastal environments
Another highlighted aspect of the work is habitat restoration. Some islands in the area have suffered human impacts and are the subject of environmental recovery projects. Additionally, projects for the rehabilitation of seabeds through the cultivation and monitoring of algae such as Gracilaria gracilis and Macrocystis pyrifera, essential for ecosystem health, are being developed.
Work is also carried out with the south American sea lion, an emblematic species in the region. Studies with satellite devices allow for recording their movements and evaluating the use of marine space, providing key information for their conservation.
Fish monitoring, especially sharks, is carried out through temporary deployment underwater video stations. These cameras allow for non-invasive observation of the fish fauna associated with benthic environments.
Seabirds as environmental indicators
Beyond their intrinsic biological value, seabirds play a key role in ecosystems. By occupying different trophic levels and feeding at different sea strata, they provide precise environmental indicators.
“A petrel that acts as a scavenger, a penguin that hunts in the water column, a cormorant that feeds at the bottom: each one offers a different view of what happens in the sea,” explains Gutiérrez.
These species, highly dependent on marine resources, are useful for assessing impacts of climate change and alterations in food chains. Analyzing their diet, body condition, or reproductive success on land provides clues about food availability in the ocean, something difficult to measure directly.
Expanding knowledge about marine ecosystems
The set of activities developed in this region ultimately seeks to generate knowledge about species and ecological processes that are poorly documented in the Argentine sea.
“Many of these dynamics are not recorded, or are very partially recorded. We have encounters with dozens of humpback whales simultaneously, and there is still very little scientific information available about that in our country,” comments Gutiérrez.
The work in the Patagonia Azul Provincial Park provides valuable data to think about long-term conservation strategies and highlights the marine biodiversity along our coasts.
With advanced technologies and a systematic methodology, these initiatives allow for progress in understanding complex ecosystems, where each species plays a specific and necessary role.
