Lack of aggression and avoidance between vicuña and guanaco herds grazing in the same Andean habitat

LUCHERINI M.; BIROCHIO D.

STUDIES ON NEOTROPICAL FAUNA AND ENVIRONMENT

Año: 1997 vol. 32 p. 72 - 75

0165-0521

The occurrence of aggression and avoidance between grazing herds of guanacos (Lama guanicoe) and vicunas (Vicugna vicugna) was analysed at high altitudes in the Argentinean Andes. Since a Large part of the groups of both species was sighted in stream proximity where forage is available, inter-specific competition for food was assumed to occur in these small patches. However, aggressive interactions between groups of different species were rarely observed. While the inter-specific group distance was frequently low, conspecific herds were rarely sighted Less than 40 m apart. Usually, the nearest neighbour distance was smaller between than within species. In the study area and during summer, there was no evidence of food competition between guanacos and vicunas.