Cormoranes de la costa patagónica: estado poblacional, ecología y conservación

Abstract

Five species of cormorants breed along the Argentinean coast: Imperial Shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps), Rock Shag (Phalacrocorax magellanicus), Red-legged Shag (Phalacrocorax gaimardi), Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax olivaceus) and Guanay Shag (Phalacrocorax bougainvillii). This study presents the state of nowadays knowledge, including unpublished information, on different aspects of biology, ecology, abundance and distribution of cormorants’ populations in the Argentinean coast. It also presents an analysis of the effects and conflicts that the main human activities (oil transportation, guano exploitation, tourism and interaction with fisheries) have on cormorants’ populations in the Argentinean Patagonia. Recommendations for future scientific studies to improve cormorant management and conservation are presented as the final conclusion of this study.