IIMYC   23581
INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIONES MARINAS Y COSTERAS
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Human Sheldgeese conflict in agricultural landscapes: Effects ofenvironmental and anthropogenic predictors on Sheldgeesedistribution in the southern Pampa, ArgentinaJ
Autor/es:
PEDRANA, JULIETA; BERNAD, LUCÍA; ISACCH, JUAN PABLO; MACEIRA, NÉSTOR O.
Revista:
AGRICULTURE, ECOSYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENT
Editorial:
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Referencias:
Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014 vol. 183 p. 31 - 39
ISSN:
0167-8809
Resumen:
Sheldgeese species are currently the subject of serious conservation concern and have been a sourceof historical conflict with agricultural interests. Here we assess the relative effects of environmentaland anthropogenic predictors on Sheldgeese (Ruddy-headed Goose Chloephaga rubidiceps, Ashy-headedGoose Chloephaga poliocephala and Upland Goose Chloephaga picta) distribution in the southern Pampasat different spatial scales. These birds were declared an ?agriculture plage? by the government and thisconflict with humans has been so far resolved with species persecution. We evaluate whether its currentwintering distribution is shaped by anthropogenic disturbances or whether it can be better explained bydifferences in topography and preference for wetlands, or by landscape composition and configuration.We characterized the study region using 17 potential predictors related to environmental, human andlandscape characteristics. We built habitat-suitability models to examine the relative effect of the vari-ables on the regional occurrence of Sheldgeese. We performed vehicle surveys in southern Buenos Airesprovince, in two years (2011?2012), surveying 9200 km of roads and recording 281 Sheldgeese flocks.Generalized additive models were used to model the presence/absence of Geese in 250-m cells. The habi-tat suitability models of Sheldgeese suggest that: (1) areas of low elevation surrounded by waterbodiesare one of the main positive drivers of species distribution, (2) centers of human activity, which areregions with greater road accessibility, have a negative impact on species distribution, (3) heterogeneouslandscape composed of croplands and grazing fields are preferred environments.