Seasonal diet of guanaco (Lama guanicoe) linked to vegetation life forms and environment types in Tierra del Fuego (Argentina)

SOLER, R; MARTÍNEZ PASTUR, G; LENCINAS, MV; BORRELLI, L

BOSQUE (VALDIVIA)

UNIV AUSTRAL CHILE

Lugar: Valdivia; Año: 2013 vol. 34 p. 129 - 141

0304-8799

Spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the food availability conditions diet composition of native herbivores. The aim of this work was to evaluate seasonal diet composition of Lama guanicoe linked to vegetation life forms and environment types in Tierra del Fuego. The study was conducted in 100 km² where 205 floristic surveys were obtained. Samples were collected over the four seasons in four areas, where five fresh feces were collected and pooled (n = 4 per season). Samples were mixed, dried and ground (1 mm) for micro-histological analysis. In floristic surveys, 113 species of vascular plant were identified. Species richness was higher in open lands > harvested Nothofagus pumilio forests > N. antarctica forests > primary N. pumilio forests (83, 63, 57 and 26 species, respectively). In feces, 25 species and 13 genera of vascular plantsm, and 1 moss (Sphagnum) were identified. N. pumilio (21.6%), Carex (17.2%), Misodendrum (10.6%) and Deschampsia (8.6%) were the most frequent species in feces all around the year. This study confirms the widespread use of environments by guanaco, where plant species and life form feeding varied with the seasons. A selective behavior is observed, due to not all the most abundant species were the most feeding, and some abundant species at landscape level are avoided. More studies related to competition with livestock, habitat use and impact over selective feeding are necessary to promote better management and conservation planning at landscape level.