Local determinants of coypu distribution along the Luján River, eastcentral Argentina

GUICHÓN ML Y MH CASSINI

Journal of Wildlife Management

The Wildlife Society

Año: 1999 vol. 63 p. 895 - 900

0022-541X

The coypu, or nutria (Myocastor coypus), is a semiaquatic rodent intensively harvested for fur and damage control. We conducted a survey along the Luján River in Argentina to determine environmental factors affecting the distribution of coypu in its natural range. In each of 82 600-m transects randomly assigned along the river, we recorded the presence of coypu and habitat characteristics related to attributes of the river, nearby vegetation, and human activity. Coypu distribution was positively related to availability of grasslands used for extensive livestock production and negatively related to local human perturbations. Lowland prairies would provide an abundant and stable source of food to coypu, which could be used as a profitable natural resource in low productive areas of the Pampas Region.