INVESTIGADORES
NOVARO andres Jose
artículos
Título:
Juvenile and adult mortality patterns in a vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) population.
Autor/es:
DONADIO, E.; BUSKIRK, S. W.; A. J. NOVARO
Revista:
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY
Editorial:
ALLIANCE COMMUNICATIONS GROUP DIVISION ALLEN PRESS
Referencias:
Lugar: Lawrence; Año: 2012 vol. 93 p. 1536 - 1544
ISSN:
0022-2372
Resumen:
Neotropical ungulates are poorly understood with regard to age-specific mortality and how it relates to different
mortality causes. During January 2008April 2011, we investigated mortality patterns of calf (,1 year old) and
adult vicunas (Vicugna vicugna) in west-central Argentina. Specifically, we analyzed whether birth mass, birth
date, and sex of radiomarked vicuna calves affected 1st-year survival; quantified cause of death for marked
calves and unmarked adults; and explored how primary productivity and quality of forage and diet related to
body condition of adult vicuna carcasses. Birth mass was a strong predictor of 1st-year survival: a 1-kg (~18%)
increase in birth mass resulted in a 54% decline in the risk of death. Further, low survival rate in 1 calendar year
was associated with low mean birth mass during that year, but not with population density and forage quality in
the previous year. Puma (Puma concolor) predation accounted for 49% (n ¼ 93) and 91% (n ¼ 89) of the
mortality in calves and adults, respectively. Body condition of adult vicunas killed by pumas varied seasonally
and correlated with seasonal changes in primary productivity and forage and diet quality. Our results highlighted
the importance of puma predation and low birth mass as proximate causes of vicuna mortality. How
environmental factors (e.g., early summer precipitation) influence forage and ultimately mortality has yet to be
determined.