INVESTIGADORES
TRAVAINI Alejandro
artículos
Título:
Inferring Species Interactions from Long-Term Monitoring Programs: Carnivores in a Protected Area from Southern Patagonia
Autor/es:
FRANCISCO DÍAZ-RUIZ; ALEJANDRO RODRIGUEZ; DIEGO PROCOPIO; SONIA CRISTINA ZAPATA; JUAN IGNACIO ZANÓN; ALEJANDRO TRAVAINI
Revista:
Diversity
Editorial:
MDPI Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Referencias:
Lugar: Basel; Año: 2020 vol. 12 p. 1 - 18
ISSN:
1424-2818
Resumen:
Abstract: Protected areas recently created in Argentina often include previously degradedlands, such as sheep ranches in the Patagonian deserts. We show the results of a 14-yearmonitoring program of three formerly persecuted carnivores, the culpeo fox (Lycalopexculpaeus), the South American grey fox (Lycalopex griseus) and the puma (Puma concolor), in twoabandoned sheep ranches that were incorporated into a Patagonian national parkapproximately 25 years ago. The culpeo fox population underwent an average annual declineof 10?23%, whereas the grey fox and puma populations increased at an average annual rate of7% and 19%, respectively. The grey fox?s increasing trends were strongly correlated with thedecline of the culpeo fox, whereas the correlations between the fox and puma trends wereweaker. Culpeo fox decline was stronger in the ranch where sheep and predator controls hadbeen removed earlier. These relationships between species trends support the competitiverelease hypothesis, assuming that puma competition with the culpeo fox for trophic resourcesis stronger than competition with the grey fox, and that the puma can exclude culpeo foxesthrough interference. Species trends suggest a competitive hierarchy between fox species, withgrey fox being the inferior competitor. However, mechanisms other than competition couldnot be discounted. Our study illustrates how long-term monitoring of interacting speciesallows a better understanding of ecological processes and wildlife ecology.