Natural history and environmental patterns in the El Yali coastal wetland, central Chile

Abstract

The coastal wetland of El Yali (33.82-33.72° S) is a priority site for the conservation of the flora and fauna of central Chile. In fact, it has been declared the Ramsar wetland and National Reserve by the Chilean authorities. In this chapter, a synopsis on the natural history and ecological patterns of the wetland is presented. Therefore, this effort aims to provide tools and implements that cover all the elements necessary to build up a conservation vision for the wetlands in Chile. Our background compilation demonstrates that the El Yali flora and fauna exhibit extraordinary biogeographic singularities and conservation states. However, our knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms that determine the functioning and structure of their biological communities is limited, especially for fauna. The scarcity of information is critical considering that since pre-hispanic times, the anthropic pressures on the El Yali wetland ecosystems have been particularly strong. For this reason, a series of recommendations and future projections are proposed, all of which seek to improve and suggest new lines of action when it comes to the preservation and sustainable development of the coastal wetland.