Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 83 (1): 113-142, 2010
Senda Darwin Biological Station: Long-term ecological research at the interface between
science and society
Senda Darwin Biological Station (SDBS) is a field research center immersed in the rural
landscape of northern Chiloé island (42º S), where remnant patches of the original evergreen forests coexist with open pastures,
secondary successional shrublands, Sphagnum bogs, Eucalyptus plantations and other anthropogenic cover
types, constituting an agricultural frontier similar to other regions in Chile and Latin America. Since 1994, we have conducted long-term
research on selected species of plants (e.g., Pilgerodendron uviferum) and animals (e.g., Aphrastura spinicauda,
Dromiciops glirioides) that are considered threatened, poorly known or important for their ecological functions in local
ecosystems, and on ecosystems of regional and global relevance (e.g., Sphagnum bogs, North Patagonian and Valdivian
rain forests). Research has assessed the responses of species and ecosystems to anthropogenic land-use change, climate change,
and the impact of management. During this period, more than 100 scientific publications in national and international journals, and 30
theses (graduate and undergraduate) have been produced by scientists and students associated with SDBS. Because of our
understanding of the key role that humans play in ecological processes at this agricultural frontier, since the establishment of SDBS we
have been committed to creative research on the communication of science to society and ecological education. The integration of
SDBS to the nascent Chilean network of long-term socio-ecological research will consolidate and strengthen basic and applied
research to project our work into the next decade.
Key words:
biodiversity, education,
long-term socio-ecological research, private protected area, temperate rainforests
