The Patagonia Megatransect, led by Rewilding Chile along with national and international experts, is one of the most ambitious marine research projects conducted in the country. Through six expeditions over two years, more than 1,200 kilometers will be covered from the Gulf of Corcovado to Cape Horn to study the underwater forests of Macrocystis pyrifera (kelp), giant algae that can reach up to 80 meters in height.
These underwater forests are considered highly efficient natural carbon sinks, capable of storing up to 20 times more carbon than terrestrial forests, making them key allies in the face of the climate crisis.
Initial Findings and Threats
According to Mathias Hüne, director of the Marine Program at Rewilding Chile, the initial expeditions confirmed that the Patagonian fjords and channels are a global climate refuge for these ecosystems, which have disappeared by up to 90% in other regions of the world. However, threats such as the expansion of the invasive anemone Metridium senile, which reduces the kelp habitat, and even the disappearance of a forest previously recorded by satellite images, have been detected.
Technology and Methodology
The project uses advanced tools such as environmental DNA and underwater photo quadrants to characterize species, identify biodiversity hotspots, and measure the blue carbon capture capacity.
- More than 90 sampling sites.
- 180 scientific diving transects.
- 7,200 underwater photo quadrants.
These records will allow the construction of a detailed map of underwater biodiversity and the role of macroalgae forests in mitigating climate change.
An Expedition with Historical Roots
The Patagonia Megatransect is inspired by scientific and exploratory milestones:
- The records of Charles Darwin on the Beagle almost 200 years ago.
- The underwater observations of marine ecologist Paul Dayton in the 1970s.
- The African Megatransect by National Geographic explorer Michael Fay, which led to the creation of national parks in Africa.
International Collaboration
The initiative is supported by the Ecological Restoration Fund and The Plum Foundation, as well as specialists from universities in Chile, Canada, Argentina, and Australia. Among them: Iván Gómez (Universidad Austral), Alejandra Mora (University of Victoria), Julieta Kaminsky (CADIC, Argentina), and Albert Pessarrodona (Western Australia).
Objectives and Projection
The central purpose is to generate scientific evidence to promote the creation of protected marine areas in southern Chile. Each dive and each photographic record will contribute to building an unprecedented archive on one of the most resilient underwater forests on the planet.
The Patagonia Megatransect not only seeks to explore a little-known ecosystem but also to define the role of the Patagonian sea in mitigating climate change. The information obtained will be published in scientific journals and shared in the Global Biodiversity Information System (GBIF). This reinforces the importance of collaborative science in addressing global environmental challenges.
