Descripción: This paper evaluates a present climate simulation over southern South America performed with the Meteorological Research Institute/Japanese Meteorological Agency (MRI/JMA) high resolution global model. Main patterns of low and upper-level atmospheric circulation were analysed in a 25-year simulation as well as climate means, interannual variability, trends and bias of temperature and precipitation. The model is able to reproduce the main atmospheric circulation patterns and mean surface variables, although some deficiencies were found such as an overestimation of temperature over central Argentina in most of seasons, an overestimation of austral winter precipitation over northeastern and central Argentina, an underestimation of precipitation in all the seasons over southeast of Brazil, an underestimation of the amplitude of the annual cycle temperature in some regions and an overestimation of the amplitude of the annual cycle of precipitation over mountainous areas. Model interannual variability was also assessed. In general, temperature variability is overestimated, whereas precipitation is underestimated. The spatial structure of the year-to-year variability of precipitation is correctly simulated by the model, although some patterns were misplaced. Most of regions present a cold seasonal bias reaching values of - 2 °C in some regions. It was found that precipitation biases are between 3 and - 1 mm day-1. In some regions and seasons observed and simulated temperature trends coincide, as in austral summer or spring, where the model and the observations show positive trends in most of regions. However, there is no agreement between observed and simulated precipitation trends in almost all the regions and seasons. © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society.

Descripción: Very little information currently exists on site fidelity patterns among Neotropical Austral migratory birds, which migrate wholly within South America. We banded migratory birds at three sites in South America, one located in the tropics and two at south temperate latitudes. We document breeding site fidelity among seven species and winter site fidelity among four species. Knowledge of patterns of site fidelity among migratory birds in South America is important for understanding the constraints affecting their populations throughout the annual cycle and ultimately for conservation planning. Accepted 8 April 2009. © The Neotropical Ornithological Society.