INIBIOMA   20415
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES EN BIODIVERSIDAD Y MEDIOAMBIENTE
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Effects of livestock on guanaco Lama guanicoe density, movements and habitat selection in a forest?grassland mosaic in Tierra del Fuego, Chile
Autor/es:
MORAGA, C. A.; FUNES, M. C.; PIZARRO, J. C.; BRICEÑO, C.; NOVARO, A.J.
Revista:
ORYX
Editorial:
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
Referencias:
Lugar: Cambridge; Año: 2014 vol. 49 p. 30 - 41
ISSN:
0030-6053
Resumen:
Locally abundant ungulates often come into conflict
with human activities. After a population collapse that
reached its nadir in the s, the guanaco Lama guanicoe
population in Tierra del Fuego, Chile, recovered and is
now in conflict with sheep ranching and commercial logging.
We studied the effects of livestock density and environmental
factors on guanaco abundance and spatial
ecology, using seasonal counts and radio-telemetry in a private
protected area (Karukinka) and neighbouring ranches
in a forest?grassland mosaic in Tierra del Fuego. Guanaco
density was highest in low-elevation areas with more grassland
cover and little snow accumulation in winter. In lowelevation
areas, guanaco density decreased with increasing
livestock density. Radio-tracked guanacos exhibited a partial
migration pattern: two individuals migrated seasonally, selecting
grasslands and avoiding forests mainly in summer,
whereas six sedentary individuals used habitats according
to their availability. Migratory guanacos spent the summer
in Karukinka and winter on nearby ranches. High sheep
densities and poor range condition on the ranches reduce
key forage resources available to guanacos and may promote
use of forests by guanacos, affecting forest regeneration and
increasing conflict with logging. Current guanaco harvest by
loggers may fail to reduce the impact of guanacos on loggedforest
regeneration if guanaco spatial ecology and sheep
management are not considered. Our results provide insight
into the interactions among guanacos, forests and livestock
ranching, and may be used to reduce conflicts and guide
conservation in the Fuegian ecosystem.