Raúl A. Ringuelet
Encyclopedia
Raúl Adolfo Ringuelet Ph.D. (September 10, 1914 – April 29, 1982) was an Argentinian zoologist.
Dr. Ringuelet published more than 100 scientific papers on the Ecology
, Limnology
, Biogeography
, and Conservation
of South America
n freshwaters, and was a mentor to a whole generation of Argentine biologists. Dr. Ringuelet's research interests were exceptionally broad, including numerous studies of leeches (Hirudinea), harvestmen spiders (Opiliones
), crustaceans, chironomid flies and Neotropical fishes
. The UNLP Instituto de Limnología `Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet` is named in his honor.
Raúl Ringuelet was born in La Plata
, September 10, 1914, and graduated in 1939 with a Doctor of Natural Sciences at the Institute of Museum, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP). Ringuelet published his first scientific work in 1936. Ringuelet went on to publish 17 works of Arachnology
, with one relating to the Order Scorpiones and the others to the Order Opiliones, 44 papers on the Hirudinea leeches, 24 on various crustaceans, and 14 specifically on Biogeography
.
Ringuelet held several professorships at the Universidad Nacional de La Plata: Adjunct professor of general Zoology (1944–1948), Acting Professor (1946–1947) and Head (1947–1955) Invertebrate Zoology, Professor Acting Zoogeography (1958), Vertebrate Zoology Professor (1957–1966), Professor of Ecology and Zoogeography (1960, per vitam in 1972) and Professor of Limnology (1969–1978). He was also Professor of Systematic Zoology in the Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Buenos Aires (1956–1964).
In recognition of his career, the National University of La Plata was appointed Extraordinary Professor Emeritus degree (1980). From 1978 until his death Ringuelet was a Senior Researcher at the National Research Council (CONICET).
The following quote (in translation to English) is from a lecture delivered by Dr. Ringuelet on January 8, 1944:
Dr. Ringuelet published more than 100 scientific papers on the Ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
, Limnology
Limnology
Limnology , also called freshwater science, is the study of inland waters. It is often regarded as a division of ecology or environmental science. It covers the biological, chemical, physical, geological, and other attributes of all inland waters...
, Biogeography
Biogeography
Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species , organisms, and ecosystems in space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities vary in a highly regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, isolation and habitat area...
, and Conservation
Conservation
Conservation may refer to:* Conservation movement, to protect animals, fungi, plants and their habitats** Conservation biology, the science of the protection and management of biodiversity...
of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n freshwaters, and was a mentor to a whole generation of Argentine biologists. Dr. Ringuelet's research interests were exceptionally broad, including numerous studies of leeches (Hirudinea), harvestmen spiders (Opiliones
Opiliones
Opiliones are an order of arachnids commonly known as harvestmen. , over 6,400 species of harvestmen have been discovered worldwide, although the real number of extant species may exceed 10,000. The order Opiliones can be divided into four suborders: Cyphophthalmi, Eupnoi, Dyspnoi and Laniatores...
), crustaceans, chironomid flies and Neotropical fishes
Neotropical fishes
The freshwater fishes of tropical South and Central America represent one of the most diverse aquatic ecosystems on Earth, with more than 5,600 species, representing about 10% all living vertebrate species...
. The UNLP Instituto de Limnología `Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet` is named in his honor.
Raúl Ringuelet was born in La Plata
La Plata
La Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants....
, September 10, 1914, and graduated in 1939 with a Doctor of Natural Sciences at the Institute of Museum, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP). Ringuelet published his first scientific work in 1936. Ringuelet went on to publish 17 works of Arachnology
Arachnology
Arachnology is the scientific study of spiders and related animals such as scorpions, pseudoscorpions, harvestmen, collectively called arachnids. However, the study of ticks and mites is sometimes not included in arachnology, but is called Acarology...
, with one relating to the Order Scorpiones and the others to the Order Opiliones, 44 papers on the Hirudinea leeches, 24 on various crustaceans, and 14 specifically on Biogeography
Biogeography
Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species , organisms, and ecosystems in space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities vary in a highly regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, isolation and habitat area...
.
Ringuelet held several professorships at the Universidad Nacional de La Plata: Adjunct professor of general Zoology (1944–1948), Acting Professor (1946–1947) and Head (1947–1955) Invertebrate Zoology, Professor Acting Zoogeography (1958), Vertebrate Zoology Professor (1957–1966), Professor of Ecology and Zoogeography (1960, per vitam in 1972) and Professor of Limnology (1969–1978). He was also Professor of Systematic Zoology in the Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Buenos Aires (1956–1964).
In recognition of his career, the National University of La Plata was appointed Extraordinary Professor Emeritus degree (1980). From 1978 until his death Ringuelet was a Senior Researcher at the National Research Council (CONICET).
The following quote (in translation to English) is from a lecture delivered by Dr. Ringuelet on January 8, 1944:
And let's say in conclusion, that if we keep our native wildlife, the wisdom is to create a thorough plan to arrive to regulate entirely on which animals should be protected, as soon as possible taking the necessary measures.
At the same time measures to study and propose should be followed without appeal and interference.
A Commission or Council, or whatever you call it, composed of men skilled in the art and consists of naturalists who are best able to understand these matters, but how the fashion of Hollywood, should be the only inspection body or advisory that could give the definitive word on any proposed introduction of animals as well as parks and reserves.
For a distribution or governing body of parks with no naturalist, botanist and zoologist, is like having a health care organization without doctors or bacteriologists or build roads without the help of engineers.
Selected publications
- Ringuelet, R. A. 1948. Una nueva Aegla del nordeste argentino. Not. Mus. La Plata 13 Zool. (111): 203-208, 3 láms.
- Ringuelet, R. A. 1949. Consideraciones sobre las relaciones filogenéticas entre las especies del género Regla Leach (Decápodos Anomuros). Not. Mus. La Plata 14 Zool. (120): 111-118.
- Ringuelet, R.A. 1959. Los aracnidos Argentinos del orden Opiliones. Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia." Ciencias Zoologicas 5(2), 127–439, figs 1–62, plates 1–20.
- Ringuelet, R. A. 1961. Rasgos fundamentales de la Zoogeografía de la Argentina. Physis 22 (63): 151-170.
- Ringuelet, R. A. 1968. Biogéographie des Copépodes d’eau douce de l’Argentine. Biologie de l` Amérique Australe 4: 261-267.
- Ringuelet, R. A., 1975. Zoogeografía y Ecología de los peces de aguas continentales de la Argentina y consideraciones sobre las áreas ictiológicas de América del Sur. Ecosur 2 (3): 122, 10.
- Ringuelet, R. A. 1981. Some advances in the knowledge of Neotropical Leeches. Limnobios 2 (4): 226.
- Ringuelet, R. A. 1980. Aportes al conocimiento de las sanguijuelas del género Haementeria De Filippi, 1849 (Hirudinea, Glossiphoniidae). Limnobios 2 (1), 50-53.
- Ringuelet, R. A. 1980. Un Hirudíneo con marsupio de la región andina de Jujuy, Argentina (Maiabdella Batracophila n. g., n. sp., Glossiphoniidae) Limnobios 2 (1), 68-71, 2 figs.
- López, H. L., R. C. Menni, & R. A. Ringuelet, 1981. Bibliografía Ictiológica Argentina (1965–1981). Biología Acuática, La Plata, 1: 1-100.