This Science in Developing Countries award will support an international symposium, "A Patagonia Gem: The Ecology and Natural History of a World Biosphere Reserve: Torres de Paine National Park, Chile," to be held in Santiago, Chile, January 10-12, 1992. The organizers are Professor William Franklin of Iowa State University and Agustin Iriarte of the Chilean Ministry of National Parks. The purpose of the symposium is to assess the current state of knowledge about this little-known region; highlight the importance of high-latitude ecosystems as represented by this World Biosphere Reserve; and identify future research priorities. Open to the public, the symposium will include over 20 presenters whose papers will be published in a book for worldwide distribution. Topics will include geology, glaciation, climate, paleoenvironments, archeology, grasslands and steppes, forests, limnology, wildlife, history, and ecotourism. Participation by international and Chilean scientists, Chilean students, resource managers, and park rangers will be emphasized. Benefits to both the U.S. and Chilean sides include the exchange of important information about the field ecology of this site and the development of research themes for future international collaboration.
