A comparison of three methods to estimate variations in the relative abundance of Mountain vizcachas (Lagidium viscacia) in the High Andes ecosystems.

LUCHERINI MAURO; REPPUCCI JUAN IGNACIO; LUENGOS VIDAL ESTELA

MASTOZOOLOGí­A NEOTROPICAL

SAREM

Año: 2009 vol. 16 p. 223 - 229

0327-9383

Mountain vizcachas are large rodents which constitute the main prey of the High Andes meso-carnivores. We compared the line transect pellet count, observation rate and photographic rate methods to estimate the relative abundance of Mountain vizcachas in the High Andes ecosystems. Although a more formal validation based on the comparison with true abundances is desirable, our results suggested that these simple and affordable indices are promising methods, especially if protocols and sampling efforts are carefully standardized. We recommend the use of photographic rates, which are likely to provide the most reliable estimates, especially where Mountain vizcachas are active at night