Habitat use by guanacos (Lama guanicoe, Camelidae) in northern Patagonia (Mendoza, Argentina)

SILVIA PUIG; FERNANDO VIDELA; MONICA CONA; VIRGILIO ROIG

STUDIES ON NEOTROPICAL FAUNA AND ENVIRONMENT

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2008

0165-0521

Strategies of habitat use of the guanaco were analyzed in early and late summer, when parturition and lactationincrease nutritional needs and predation risk. The daily distribution of guanacos was followed by scan-sampling,relief and soil were measured in each habitat, and vegetation was analyzed by the point-quadrat method.Guanacos showed a selective habitat use, preferring open areas with grasslands, gentle terrain and low hidingcover. The density of guanacos was positively associated with the intensively eaten grass Panicum urvilleanum,and negatively associated with rocky soils, high shrublands and avoided plants. A weakening of the selectivehabitat use occurred when the abundance of guanacos increased in the study area during late summer, ceasingavoidance of poor and risky habitats.