SUMMARY: Palaeontological studies on postglacial molluscan faunas from marine deposits located along the northern coast of the Beagle Channel (lat. 54°55'S, long. 68°34'-67°11'W) showed differences of various molluscan assemblages during a period of climatic stability after deglaciation. Oceanographic changes, different local environmental conditions and/or episodes of minor climatic fluctuations are pointed out as causes for the variations in faunal composition. Comparison with Quaternary molluscs from Antarctica showed that these palaeofaunas overlap slightly at the species level, but have a considerable number of genera (23%) and families (50%) in common. These affinities and relationships are better explained on the basis of more recent migrating taxa than by ancient connections when the two regions formed part of the Weddellian Province.Keywords: mollusc assemblages, Tierra del Fuego, Beagle Channel, palaeoenvironments, Quaternary.
RESUMEN: FAUNAS CUATERNARIAS DE MOLUSCOS DE LA ISLA DE TIERRA DEL FUEGO DESPUÉS DEL ÚLTIMO MÁXIMO GLACIAL.-Estudios paleontológicos en faunas de moluscos postglaciales hallados en depósitos marinos sobre la costa norte del Canal Beagle (lat. 54°55'S; long. 68°34'-67°11'O) demostraron que las diferencias en varias asociaciones de moluscos ocurridas en un período de estabilidad climática después de la última deglaciación se deben a variaciones en la composición faunísti-ca que siguen a los cambios oceanográficos, a situaciones ambientales localmente diferentes y/o episodios con fluctuaciones climáticas menores. La comparación con moluscos cuaternarios de Antártica muestra que estas faunas tienen un ligero solapamiento a nivel especie, pero un considerable número de géneros (23%) y familias en común (50%). Estas afinidades y relaciones se explican mejor en base a migraciones recientes de taxones, que en base a antiguas conexiones cuando las dos regiones formaban parte de la Provincia Weddelliana.
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