Members

THE PEOPLE FROM THE LARBIM

Researchers and Fellows

Lic. Marina Inés Delfino

Doctoral Fellow CONICET

Ariana Alarcón Saavedra

Lic. Marina Delfino

mai_delfino@hotmail.com

My research

I completed my degree in Biological Sciences at the National University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco. My undergraduate thesis was focused on studying the taxonomy of boring marine bivalves that inhabit northern Patagonia. As a result, I have published two articles in scientific journals where the taxonomic status of species belonging to the Mytilidae and Pholadidae families was revised. Currently, I am developing my PhD studying the Biodiversity of marine mollusks of the Patagonia Azul Biosphere Reserve (Chubut) as a conservation tool. The main objective of this project is focused on the study of marine molluscs present at the reserve. This project will be based on taxonomic revisions present in the study area and will set the basis to evaluate the management plans of the reserve. In addition, the richness of species between sites will be compared, in order to detect possibles hot spots of marine mollusc biodiversity.

Research goals
  • To review the taxonomic status and geographic distribution of marine mollusk species present at the Patagonia Azul Biosphere Reserve.
  • To illustrate studied species and describe the new detected species.
  • To make the taxonomic results obtained available to the corresponding provincial entities in order to review the management plan of the reserve, as well as its internal zoning, in order to propose adequate conservation measures.
  • To establish the vulnerability rating corresponding to relieved species according to the criteria established by the IUCN.
Research topics

The main topics of my research are focused on taxonomic and morphological studies of mollusks, mainly bivalves. In addition, I am doing my first steps in conservation studies related to Patagonia Azul Biosphere Reserve. The main tasks that I carry out are based on field work; in the revision of repositories such as the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences “Bernardino Rivadavia” and Museum of La Plata; the review of the type material of each revised nominal species; and on laboratory tasks such as dissections of specimens collected at field in order to analyze the morphology and internal anatomy.

Bvd. Brown 2915 (U9120ACD)
Puerto Madryn, Chubut - Argentina
Tel.: +54 (0280) 488-3184 int 1329
https://www.larbim.com.ar