CHILEAN “ELEPHANT” FOSSILS HINT AT ANCIENT HUMAN SETTLEMENT

[Kyra]

 CHILEAN “ELEPHANT” FOSSILS HINT AT ANCIENT HUMAN SETTLEMENT     
Written by Emmanuelle Lebhar   
Friday, 07 August 2009



Stegomastadons (above) roamed southern Chile 13,000 years ago
Universidad Austral Relaciones Publicas/Diego Pino N.- Krayon Media

Scientists Think They May Have A New Monte Verde On Their Hands

Archeologists in southern Chile’s Region X are continuing to revel in the chance 2007 discovery of molars and bones belonging to a stegomastodon, a species of prehistoric elephant. Their ongoing research suggests that the site, known as La Plata, could eventually rival nearby Monte Verde in terms of historical significance.
The stegomastodon (gonfoterio in Spanish) is a prehistoric mammal that looks like a stronger version of the modern elephant. It lived in the Andes region approximately 13,000 years ago.

When scientists first began to search the famous archeological site of Monte Verde in 1976, it was originally to look for stegomastodon bones. But a close look revealed man-made markings on the bones, which led to the historical discovery of the oldest human settlement in the Americas.

That finding had a tremendous impact on the understanding of when and how human beings first arrived in the Americas. Indeed, before Monte Verde, the oldest known settlement was located in New Mexico, which backed the hypothesis that humans arrived by crossing over from Asia to Alaska via the Bering Strait. People then gradually migrated south, according to the long-standing premise. The discovery of even older human remains so far south raised serious questions about that theory, suggesting the possibility that humans may have instead arrived from some Pacific island or even from Antarctica.

More than 30 years later, in December 2007, a resident found old bones on a construction site near Lago Ranco. The bones turned out to have belonged to a stegomastodon. Scientists from the Universidad Austral rushed to the site (La Plata) to look for more fossils, and soon discovered remains of other prehistoric species. The concentration of the remains suggests the possibility that there was a human settlement close-by. Convinced they may have another Monte Verde on their hands, researchers are urging officials to classify the zone as an official archeological site.

Mario Pino, a geologist from the Universidad Austral, explained in an interview to La Nación that "it is very unusual that three distinct species of mammals would have died naturally in such a small sector."

“It could be the product of human activity," he added.
 
However, performing a thorough search of La Plata is a huge operation in terms of money and time. The scientists are therefore in the process of collecting the necessary funding that will allow them to go beyond the stegomastodon discovery, and possibly to make a new breakthrough in the history of the human populating process of our planet.

By Emmanuelle Lebhar ( patagoniatimes@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )
 http://www.patagoniatimes.cl/index.php/20090807871/News/Health-Science/CHILEAN-ELEPHANT-FOSSILS-HINT-AT-ANCIENT-HUMAN-SETTLEMENT.html

[Kyra]

Crab season kicks off in far southern Chile's Region XII
Photo courtesy of U.S. NOAA
The first boatloads of Magellan spider crabs arrived in Punta Arenas (Region XII) late last week, marking the commencement of the 2009 spider crab season and the end of the National Fishing Service’s six month ban on hunting the prized crustaceans.

The first 400 boats have brought in more than 8,000 kilos of crab to the Barranco Amarillo fishing dock, seven kilometres north of Punta Arenas.

Each year the export of Magellan spider crabs to the United States, Europe, and Asia brings in US$10 to US$20 million in sales.

This year, local fishermen are hoping to catch as much crab as they did in 2008, when 2,300 tons were harvested.

One of the vessels, “Don Gaby,” brought in 2,000 kilos of crab to the fishing dock, while “Navegante VI” brought in almost 6,000 kilos. Both had been travelling for around 18 hours at sea, from the canals close to the Magellan Strait, where they set the traps, to Punta Arenas. Each boat takes uses 200 to 500 metal traps which they leave submerged in the ocean at depths of 60 to 200 meters.

The National Fishing Service authorizes spider crab fishing between July and November, a period in which around 400 vessels enter the Magellan waters to begin the hunt.

According to Juan Lemus, President of the Punta Arenas Fishing and Artisan Boating Trade Union, spider crab season got off to a slow start this year.

Although the season officially began on July 1, it was postponed due to bad weather conditions in the fishing zones.

“The weather has been terrible and few crabs are coming out,” said Lemus.

“The fishing carriers and launches are just beginning to arrive, but the bad weather has affected them on the fishing days.”

Lemus anticipates that despite the late start date, and despite the fact that crab production has decreased in recent years, last year’s total of 2,300 tons can still be reached.

Region XII is a principal exporter of crustaceans, among which the Magellan spider crab is a particular speciality. Each year the extraction of the crabs provides around 1,600 local jobs.

The National Fishing Service has tightened its management of the crab industry to avoid illegal captures in the zone, where female crabs or crabs smaller than the legal size are often extracted.

SOURCE: EL MERCURIO
By Natalie Muller ( patagoniatimes@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )

[Kyra]

 COYHAIQUE IS CHILE'S SMOGGIEST CITY AFTER SANTIAGO       PDF        Print        E-mail
Written by Natalie Muller   
Wednesday, 10 June 2009

According to a National Environmental Committee (CONAMA) study of air pollution in Chilean cities excluding Santiago, Coihaique (Region XI) has the most critical levels of atmospheric contamination, followed by Rancagua (Region VI), Osorno (Region X) and Temuco (Region IX).
The amount of heavy particle matter per cubic meter was measured to determine the severity of the air pollution in each city.

While the maximum permitted annual average of pollution is 50ug/m3, Coihaique was found to have an average of 80ug/m3 in heavy particle matter in 2008 and 2009. Rancagua and Osorno´s annual average also exceeded the permitted maximum, recording an average of 69ug/m3 and 68ug/m3 respectively.

The report said that the accepted maximum daily amount of 150ug/m3 is exceeded around 11 days a month in colder cities such as Coihaique and Osorno because 97 percent of the population uses firewood for heating homes. Firewood generates 35 percent of the pollution while 50 percent comes from forest fires and agricultural back burning.

Municipalities in these high-risk regions are now taking action to curb rising pollution during the winter. Authorities in Rancagua have declared the surrounding Central Valley region a Saturated Zone – the first step toward implementing an Atmosphere Decontamination Plan. Such a plan is already in effect in Temuco, where the amount of air contamination has tripled in the last four years.

The Temuco Municipality rewards those who use dry wood instead of damp wood, which is the more potent pollutant. Also a plan is underway to provide filters for 6,000 of the 22,000 wood stoves in the area to lessen the amount of heavy particle matter entering the atmosphere. 

According to various World Heath Organization (WHO) studies, the kind of heavy particle matter pollution seen in these cities can severely affect health, quality of life, and susceptibility to illnesses, especially in young children and the elderly.

SOURCE: EL MERCURIO, LA TERCERA
By Natalie Muller