Puma-camelid Predator-prey Relationship as a Mechanism of Food Provisioning to Andean Condors

PERRIG, P; DONADIO, E; MIDDLETON, A; PAULI, J

Congreso; American Society of Mammalogists 94th Annual Meeting; 2014

Apex predators can have strong positive effects on scavengers by increasing both the spatial and temporal availability of carrion. To explore the importance of the trophic relationship between pumas (Puma concolor) and its native ungulate prey, vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) and guanacos (Lama guanicoe), in food provisioning for Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) within a functionally intact ecosystem, we evaluated the cause of mortality for camelid carcasses, quantified carcass-use by condors and estimated the reliance of condors on native food items at San Guillermo National Park, Argentina. During January?July, 2013, we conducted field necropsies and then monitored 45 fresh camelid carcasses. Eighty-nine percent of these showed signs of puma predation and 98% were scavenged, at least 45% by condors. Additionally, from the 183 condor pellets that were inspected for the identification of prey remains, we found that camelids represented 88% of the prey items. Our preliminary isotopic analyses also revealed that the majority of condor diet is obtained from camelid carcasses. Our results suggest that functional linkages between these 3 species and trophic levels are tight, and highlight the importance of conserving communities of interacting species for the long-term maintenance of biodiversity.