Ecology and Conservation of high-Andean Flamingos in Catamarca Province, Argentina

PATRICIA MARCONI; AMELIA CLARK; ANA LAURA SUREDA; DIEGO FRAU; FELICITY ARENGO

San Diego

Simposio; 3rd International Flamingo Symposium 2014; 2014

The high-Andean Puna and Andean Flamingos (Phoenicoparrus jamesi and P. andinus) occur within a 30,000 km2 complex of saline lakes at an altitude of 3,000 ? 4,300 a.m.s.l in the Puna and high-Andean plateau of Catamarca Province in northwestern Argentina during summer. Eleven wetlands from a list of 47 surveyed between 1998 and 2014 meet the inclusion criteria for the Network of Wetlands for Flamingo Conservation. Results show that both species are found in shallow lakes (< 0.10 m), within a wide salinity range (44 -2 mg L-1), being associated with diatom availability. Summer surveys show an aggregated distribution of Puna flamingos, concentrating 84% of the total population in a single lake -Laguna Grande - (up to 19,000 individuals) while Andean flamingos are more dispersed, with 53% found in 5 lakes. During a 17-year monitoring period, both species have shown a trend of increasing abundance in Catamarca?s lakes, especially the Andean Flamingo. Laguna Grande is the most important wetland for nesting Puna Flamingos, with breeding activity recorded almost every year since 2009 with however, a low reproduction success. . Small nesting colonies of Andean Flamingos have been recorded at 5 different lakes. Pressures and threats on flamingos and wetlands in Catamarca Province occur at two different spatial scales: non metal mining (lithium and potash), unregulated tourism at a regional scale, hunting, and egg collection at a local scale. Mining and prospecting enhance, are all threats by opening and maintaining roads. Though local communities are scarcely populated (0,05 inhabitant/km2) and individual income is primarily through government employment and subsidies, ilegal egg collection and hunting are high impact recreational activities. Our research and conservation activities resulted in the design and designation of Lagunas Altoandinas y Puneñas de Catamarca as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2009 and the creation of Campo de Piedra Pómez Provincial Reserve in 2012 to protect flamingo habitats. We spearheaded the development of a participatory Conservation Plan for the Ramsar Site and implementation of pilot conservation actions ? zoning, signage, and road design- at Laguna Grande and Laguna Purulla, development of teacher training program, and strengthening inter-institutional coordination for management of the site.