Analysis of sustainable harvest of guanaco population in Patagonia using a stage – structured matrix model.

SIMOY, MARIO IGNACIO; NARDÍN, MAURO ANDRÉS

Santa María

Congreso; Models in Population Dynamics and Ecology (MPDE12); 2012

Universidade Federal de Santa María, Brasil

Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) is a herbivore belonging to the Camelidae spp. It has the widest spatial distribution among the South American camelids and inhabits the most diverse environments. Guanaco populations can be found from the Peruvian Andes to Tierra del Fuego and Navarino Island, from sea level plains to 4500 m high mountain valleys. Here we present a matrix population model for analyzing the dynamics of guanaco populations in the province of Neuqu´en, Argentina. It was parameterized using vital rates data from publications. The model is structured in four stages: Chulengos, Juveniles, Young Adults and Adults. Sensitivity and elasticity analyses allow understanding the effect of vital parameters on the population dynamics. The population growth rate indicates an increasing population. Thus, harvest was included in order to analyze scenarios of sustainable exploitation. Four alternative harvest scenarios, in which only one stage is being harvested, were evaluated. Conditions for sustainability were established.