Rocio Alvarez-Varas

• MSc. Ph.D.
• PostDoc Position at Universidad Católica del Norte (Chile)

Easter Island has experienced a marked increase in tourism during the past few decades; this has intensified the use of natural resources, which has in turn posed new threats to marine wildlife. To gather information on marine turtle species inhabiting Easter Island and research needs for their conservation, we conducted interviews with local commu...

The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata; Critically Endangered) has a circumtropical distribution. In Polynesia it inhabits the waters of a great number of slands; however, up to date there are no official records for Easter Island. We document the first report of E. imbricata in Easter Island and Chile based on underwater hotographs and exami...

It is possible to recognize the presence of sea turtles in Chile since the Cretaceous with fossil registry in the south of the country. In addition, pictographies and petroglyphs exist, in both continental and insular territory. This evidences the interaction between sea turtles and man since early times in history, either for consumption or cultur...

Two divergent genetic lineages have been described for the endangered green turtle in the Pacific Ocean, occurring sympatrically in some foraging grounds. Chile has seven known green turtle foraging grounds, hosting mainly juveniles of different lineages. Unfortunately, anthropic factors have led to the decline or disappearance of most foraging agg...

Marine species may exhibit genetic structure accompanied by phenotypic differentiation related to adaptation despite their high mobility. Two shape-based morphotypes have been identified for the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the Pacific Ocean: the south-central/western or yellow turtle and north-central/ eastern or black turtle. The genetic diff...

Marine species may exhibit genetic structure accompanied by phenotypic differentiation related to adaptation despite their high mobility. Two shape-based morphotypes have been identified for the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the Pacific Ocean: the south-central/western or yellow turtle and north-central/eastern or black turtle. The genetic diffe...

Patterns of genetic structure in highly mobile marine vertebrates may be accompanied by phenotypic variation. Most studies in marine turtles focused on population genetic structure have been performed at rookeries. We studied whether genetic and morphological variation of the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is consistent geographically, fo...

Five turtle species from seven regional management units (RMUs) inhabit the waters of 12 different countries in the East Pacific (EP) Ocean region. This Regional Overview section provides a brief summary of each RMU by species and is followed by detailed information in chapters from 10 (83.3%) of the countries found in the EP, with Canada and Guate...

Patterns of genetic structure in highly mobile marine vertebrates may be accompanied by phenotypic variation. Most studies in marine turtles focused on population genetic structure have been performed at rookeries. We studied whether genetic and morphological variation of the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is consistent geographically, fo...

Understanding animals' daily activity patterns such as foraging and resting is key to the effective conservation of individuals, populations, and species. Expanding habitat usage by humans today is likely one of the major factors influencing animal habitat use and behavior. Rapa Nui, a remote Chilean island located at the easternmost corner of the...

Sea turtles are deeply rooted in Pacific cultures. Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile) has a complex societal and ecological history and marine resources have always been exploited; nevertheless, little is known about relationships between these resources and Rapanui islanders. This study aims to explore the historical and contemporary role of sea turt...

IUCN-SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group Annual Regional Report 2019

The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is a globally distributed marine species whose evolutionary history has been molded by geological events and oceanographic and climate changes. Divergence between Atlantic and Pacific clades has been associated with the uplift of the Panama Isthmus, and inside the Pacific region, a biogeographic barrier located wes...

ABSTRACT: An adult olive ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivacea with lesions suggestive of fibro- papillomatosis was rescued on the coast of San Antonio, central Chile. Histopathologic analysis showed an exophytic and pedunculated mass formed by epidermal papillary projections supported by fibrovascular cores, epidermal hyperplasia and marked orthoker...

Anthropogenic Marine Debris (AMD) in the SE Pacific has primarily local origins from land-based sources, including cities (coastal and inland), beach-goers, aquaculture, and fisheries. The low frequency of AMD colonized by oceanic biota (bryozoans, lepadid barnacles) suggests that most litter items from coastal waters of the Humboldt Current System...

Context Biological invasions have caused dramatic changes in native biodiversity and ecosystem function. Studies of genetic variation and evolutionary changes are useful for understanding population dynamics during biological invasions, and shed light on management, prevention and restoration strategies. Aims This study aimed to investigate the st...

Penguins are reliable sentinels for environmental assessments of mercury (Hg) due to their longevity, abundance, high trophic level, and relatively small foraging areas. We analyzed Hg concentrations from blood and feathers of adult Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) and feathers of chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) from different r...

Bahía Salado, located in northern Chile (27°41'S, 70°59'W), is the southernmost foraging ground for the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO). To date, almost no information exists on its current status, nor on its connectivity with nesting rookeries in the EPO. This study aims to inform on the genetic characte...

From northern Colombia to Tierra del Fuego, the South American continent stretches some 7,149 kilometers (4,443 miles) and is 4,353 km (2,705 mi) at its broadest. The fourth-largest continent, South America is number one in biodiversity. It is home to the world’s largest rainforest wilderness and river system (the Amazon) and to the world’s largest...

The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata; Critically Endangered) has a circumtropical distribution. In Polynesia it inhabits the waters of a great number of islands; however, up to date there are no official records for Easter Island. We document the first report of E. imbricata in Easter Island and Chile based on underwater photographs and exa...