ACTIVITY PATTERN SEGREGATION OF CARNIVORES IN THE HIGH ANDES

LUCHERINI M.; REPPUCCI J.I.; WALKER R.S.; VILLALBA L.; WURSTTEN A.; GALLARDO G.; IRIARTE A.; VILLALOBOS R.; PEROVIC. P.

JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY

ALLIANCE COMMUNICATIONS GROUP DIVISION ALLEN PRESS

Año: 2009 vol. 90 p. 1404 - 1409

0022-2372

Intraguild competition may be reduced if ecologically similar species segregate temporally. Using data from 1596 camera trap photos, we present the first quantitative analyses of the activity patterns of the Andean cat Oreailurus jacobita, Pampas cat Lynchailurus colocolo, culpeo Lycalopex culpaeus, and puma Puma concolor in high-altitude deserts of the Andes. We compare daily activity patterns for these carnivores with that of the mountain vizcachas Lagidium viscacia, the main prey of Andean cats. The activity patterns of all species were positively skewed towards night. Pampas cats displayed the greatest proportion of nocturnal activity, while Andean cats were the most diurnal. Activity by Andean cats differed significantly only from that by Pampas cats; Pampas cats also differed from puma. Activity by mountain vizcacha was generally similar to that of Andean cats, as expected if these cats are specialized to prey on this rodent. The dissimilar activity patterns detected for Andean and Pampas cats supports the hypothesis of temporal niche segregation of these felids.