Diet and abundance of the guanaco (Lama guanicoe M uller ̈ 1776) in four habitats of northern Patagonia, Argentina

SILVIA PUIG; FERNANDO VIDELA; MONICA CONA

JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS

ACADEMIC PRESS LTD-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 1997

0140-1963

Guanaco responses to spatial heterogeneity were evaluated in La PayuniaProtected Area, Patagonia, through analysis of guanaco diet and density, andfood availability, in four habitats. An opportunistic behaviour was suggestedby dietary differences among habitats reflecting differences in availability offood plant species. The abundance of guanacos was positively correlated withthe availability of the preferred species, and it was stable throughout the yearwhere preferred shrubs were highly available. Switching among habitats maybe an adaptive response of guanacos to the low quality of available food. Astrong negative influence of the range livestock on the abundance ofguanacos, in spite of high food availability, was detected.