Report for Idea Wild

TARABORELLI, P.

2011-03-24/2034-12-31

1-56

Biológica

Medio terrestre-Conservacion

THE GENERAL OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS: To analyze and determine the influence of environmental, biological and anthropic factors on the sociality of L. guanicoe. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES The work plan will address different specific objectives related to establishing the different factors that would be determining sociality in L. guanicoe: Regarding environmental and biological factors: 1.To analyze the influence of climate conditions (frost, snowfall) and of the productivity and availability of forage resources on the social organization of guanacos for a migratory population in the south of Mendoza. 2.To determine the repertoire of social behaviours (e.g. agonistic behaviour, cooperative behaviour, contact patterns, vocalizations, etc.) and make comparisons between types of social groups. 3.To study the antipredator behaviour (vigilance, vocalizations and escape) and relate it to predation risk and group size. 4.To determine the type of polygyny (mating system) and the influence on it of environmental quality (productivity). 5.To relate territory defence behaviour to cortisol levels in faeces, during the summer. Regarding anthropic factors: 1.To identify and quantify behavioural indicators of stress during management, such as escape attempts, vocalizations, kicking or struggling, and relate them to serum cortisol levels (stress indicator). 2.To determine the effect of management (capture and shearing) on group restructuring. 3.To determine the effect of shearing on temperature regulation, using foraging and resting rates and proportions as indicators, comparing shorn and non-shorn guanacos. And to relate these indicators to cortisol levels in faeces.