INTERACTION CHILEAN FLAMINGO (Phoenicopterus chilensis) AND ZOOPLANKTONIC CRUSTACEANS: A METACOOMUNITY VIEW POINT

The Chilean flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis is a migratory water bird that has as nesting and nidification area shallow ponds between Tierra del Fuego Island and Northern Andes. This species predate on crustacean zooplankton specifically Anostracans and Copepods. The aim of the present study is compare the spatial distribution of P. chilensis and with the crustacean communities among geographical gradient. In Southern latitudes specifically in Torres del Paine National Park and Tierra del Fuego Island the crustacean zooplankton is composed by brine shrimp Artemia persimilis, halophilic copepods Boeckella poopensis and large body copepods such as Parabroteas sarsi, B. brasiliensis and B. poppei, whereas in Central Argentina the main species are copepods such as B. gracilis, B. pooopoensis, cladocerans of Daphnia and Moina genus, finally, in the northern Andes the habitats have brine shrimps A. franciscana and halophilic copepods B. poopoensis. The geographical distribution of P. chilensis is similar to widespread crustacean species such as B. poopoensis and B. gracilis that would explain biogeographical patterns and would explain as metacommunity.