Habitat selection by reintroduced guanacos (Lama guanicoe) in a heterogeneous mountain rangeland of central Argentina
Celina E. Flores A , Ana M. Cingolani B , Axel von Müller B and Fernando R. Barri A CA Centro de Ecología y Recursos Naturales Renovables (CONICET – Universidad Nacional de Córdoba), Córdoba, Argentina.
B Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (CONICET – Universidad Nacional de Córdoba), Córdoba, Argentina.
C Corresponding author. Email: fbarri@efn.uncor.edu
The Rangeland Journal 34(4) 439-445 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ12040
Submitted: 26 June 2012 Accepted: 9 November 2012 Published: 17 December 2012
Abstract
Quebrada del Condorito National Park is located in the upper belt of the mountains of central Argentina and preserves a heterogeneous rangeland area. After the creation of the National Park, in 1996, domestic livestock were gradually removed to avoid soil loss and degradation due to overgrazing in this fragile ecosystem. Lack of large-scale herbivory allowed the expansion of tussock grasslands over grazing lawns. In 2007 a guanaco (Lama guanicoe) population was reintroduced; this large native herbivore, that had become extinct in the region was selected, because it is a low-impact grazer. Habitat selection by the guanaco population reintroduced to the National Park was studied. Seven habitat types previously defined for the region were considered, each one exhibiting a particular dominant plant growth form and different per cent cover of plant species. Guanacos made a positive selection of moist and dry grazing lawns, and avoided tussock grasslands and forests. The reintroduced guanacos selected landscapes with short plants and a high percentage of perennial graminoids and forbs, which are guanacos’ preferred food items. The results indicate that availability of forage of a nutritive value and dominant plant growth form largely explain habitat selection by guanaco in the National Park; this information can be useful for both the ongoing guanaco reintroduction project and the design of management strategies aimed at ecological restoration of this important rangeland region of central Argentina.
Additional keywords: grazed patches, large herbivore, mountains of central Argentina, reintroduction.
References
Acebes, P., Traba, J., Malo, J., Ovejero, R., and Borghi, C. E. (2010). Density and habitat use at different spatial scales of a guanaco population (Lama guanicoe) in the Monte desert of Argentina. Mammalia 74, 57–62.| Density and habitat use at different spatial scales of a guanaco population (Lama guanicoe) in the Monte desert of Argentina.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Armstrong, P., and Seddon, P. (2008). Directions in reintroduction biology. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 23, 20–25.
| Directions in reintroduction biology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Arzamendia, Y., Cassini, M., and Vilá, B. (2006). Habitat use by vicuñas, Vicugna vicugna, in Laguna Pozuelos Reserve (Jujuy, Argentina). Oryx 40, 198–203.
| Habitat use by vicuñas, Vicugna vicugna, in Laguna Pozuelos Reserve (Jujuy, Argentina).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baldi, R., Albon, S., and Elston, D. (2001). Guanacos and sheep: evidence for continuing competition in arid Patagonia. Oecologia 129, 561–570.
Bank, M. S., and Franklin, W. L. (1998). Puma (Puma concolor patagonica) feeding observations and attacks on guanacos (Lama guanicoe). Mammalia 62, 599–605.
Bank, M. S., Sarno, R. J., and Franklin, W. L. (2003). Spatial distribution of guanaco mating sites in southern Chile: conservation implications. Biological Conservation 112, 427–434.
| Spatial distribution of guanaco mating sites in southern Chile: conservation implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barri, F. R., and Fernández, M. (2011). Foraging and vigilance time allocation in a guanaco (Lama guanicoe) population reintroduced in Quebrada del Condorito National Park (Córdoba, Argentina). Acta Ethologica 14, 103–107.
| Foraging and vigilance time allocation in a guanaco (Lama guanicoe) population reintroduced in Quebrada del Condorito National Park (Córdoba, Argentina).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barri, F. R., Renison, D., and Baldi, R. (2009). Population dynamics of reintroduced guanaco (Lama guanicoe) in the Quebrada del Condorito National Park, Argentina. In: ‘Proceedings of the 10th International Mammalogical Congress’. (Eds R. A. Ojeda, W. Z. Lidicker and M. M. Díaz.) p.160. (International Federation of Mammalogists: Mendoza.)
Bellis, L., Martella, M., Navarro, J., and Vignolo, P. (2004). Home range of greater and lesser rhea in Argentina: relevance to conservation. Biodiversity and Conservation 13, 2589–2598.
| Home range of greater and lesser rhea in Argentina: relevance to conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Berberián, E., and Roldán, F. (2001). Arqueología de las Sierras Centrales (Archaeology of the Central Hills). In: ‘Historia Argentina Prehispánica’. (Eds E. Berberían and A. Nielsen.) pp. 635–692. (Universidad Nacional de Córdoba Press: Argentina.)
Borgnia, M., Vilá, B., and Cassini, M. (2008). Interaction between wild camelids and livestock in an Andean semidesert. Journal of Arid Environments 72, 2150–2158.
| Interaction between wild camelids and livestock in an Andean semidesert.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Boyce, S., Mao, J., Merrill, E., and Fortin, D. (2003). Scale and heterogeneity in habitat selection by elk in Yellowstone National Park. Ecoscience 10, 421–431.
Burgi, M. V., Marino, A., Rodríguez, M. V., Pazos, G., and Baldi, R. (2012). Response of guanacos Lama guanicoe to changes in land management in Península Valdés, Argentine Patagonia: conservation implications. Oryx 46, 99–105.
| Response of guanacos Lama guanicoe to changes in land management in Península Valdés, Argentine Patagonia: conservation implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cabido, M., Funes, G., Pucheta, E., Vendramini, F., and Díaz, S. (1998). A chorological analysis of the mountains from central Argentina: is all what we call Sierra Chaco really Chaco? Contribution to the study of the flora and vegetation of the Chaco XII. Candollea 53, 321–331.
Cassini, M., Borgnia, M., Arzamendia, Y., Benitez, V., and Vilá, B. (2009). Sociality, foraging and habitat use by Vicuña. In: ‘The Vicuña: The Theory and Practice of Community-based Wildlife Management’. (Ed. I. J. Gordon.) pp. 35–48. (Springer Verlag: Berlin.)
Cingolani, A. M., Cabido, M., Renison, D., and Solís Neffa, V. (2003). Combined effects of environment and grazing on vegetation structure in Argentine granite grasslands. Journal of Vegetation Science 14, 223–232.
| Combined effects of environment and grazing on vegetation structure in Argentine granite grasslands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cingolani, A. M., Renison, D., Zak, M., and Cabido, M. (2004). Mapping vegetation in a heterogeneous mountain rangeland using Landsat data: an alternative method to define and classify land-cover units. Remote Sensing of Environment 92, 84–97.
| Mapping vegetation in a heterogeneous mountain rangeland using Landsat data: an alternative method to define and classify land-cover units.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cingolani, A. M., Noy-Meir, I., and Díaz, S. (2005). Grazing effects on rangeland diversity: a synthesis of contemporary models. Ecological Applications 15, 757–773.
| Grazing effects on rangeland diversity: a synthesis of contemporary models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cingolani, A. M., Cabido, M., Gurvich, D., Renison, D., and Díaz, S. (2007). Filtering processes in the assembly of plant communities: are species presence and abundance driven by the same traits? Journal of Vegetation Science 18, 911–920.
| Filtering processes in the assembly of plant communities: are species presence and abundance driven by the same traits?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cingolani, A. M., Renison, D., Tecco, P. A., Gurvich, D., and Cabido, M. (2008). Predicting cover types in a mountain range with long evolutionary grazing history: a GIS approach. Journal of Biogeography 35, 538–551.
| Predicting cover types in a mountain range with long evolutionary grazing history: a GIS approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cingolani, A. M., Vairetti, M. V., Gurvich, D., Giorgis, A. M., and Cabido, M. (2010). Predicting alpha, beta and gamma plant diversity from physiognomic and physical indicators as a tool for ecosystem monitoring. Biological Conservation 143, 2570–2577.
| Predicting alpha, beta and gamma plant diversity from physiognomic and physical indicators as a tool for ecosystem monitoring.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Di Rienzo, J. A., Casanoves, F., Balzarini, M. G., Gonzalez, L., Tablada, M., and Robledo, C. V. (2010). ‘InfoStat versión 2010. (InfoStat 2010 version).’ (Grupo InfoStat, FCA, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba: Argentina.) Available at: www.infostat.com.ar
Díaz, S., Acosta, A., and Cabido, M. (1994). Community structure in montane grasslands of central Argentina in relation to land use. Journal of Vegetation Science 5, 483–488.
| Community structure in montane grasslands of central Argentina in relation to land use.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Erlich, A. (1984). Guanaco. In: ‘Mamíferos’. (Ed. M. A. Palermo.) pp. 274–283. (Centro Editor de América Latina: Buenos Aires.)
Falczuk, V. (2002). Relaciones entre selección de dieta de grandes herbívoros, disponibilidad y características físico-químicas de las plantas en un pastizal de altura de las Sierras de Córdoba (Relations between diet selection of large herbivores, availability and physicochemical characteristics of plants in a highland grassland of the Cordoba). PhD Thesis, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina.
García, C., Renison, D., Cingolani, A. M., and Fernández-Juricic, E. (2008). Avifaunal changes as a consequence of large scale livestock exclusion in the mountains of Central Argentina. Journal of Applied Ecology 45, 351–360.
| Avifaunal changes as a consequence of large scale livestock exclusion in the mountains of Central Argentina.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Godvik, I. M. R., Loe, L., Vik, J., Veirveg, V., Langvatn, R., and Misterud, A. (2009). Temporal scales, trade-off, and functional responses in red deer habitat selection. Ecology 90, 699–710.
| Temporal scales, trade-off, and functional responses in red deer habitat selection.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
IUCN (1998). ‘The IUCN Guidelines for Reintroductions.’ (IUCN Press: Cambridge.)
Ivlev, V. S. (1961). ‘Experimental Ecology of the Feeding of Fishes.’ (Yale University Press: New Haven.)
Johnson, D. H. (1980). The comparison of usage and availability measurements for evaluating resource preference. Ecology 61, 65–71.
| The comparison of usage and availability measurements for evaluating resource preference.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kaczensky, P., Ganbaatar, O., Von Wehrden, H., and Walzer, C. (2008). Resource selection by sympatric wild equids in the Mongolian Gobi. Journal of Applied Ecology 45, 1762–1769.
| Resource selection by sympatric wild equids in the Mongolian Gobi.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lawrence, R. (1990). Factors influencing guanaco habitat use and group size in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. MSc Thesis, Iowa State University, USA.
Pía, M. (2011). Influencia conjunta de la vegetación, asentamientos humanos, caminos y actividades ganaderas sobre la ocurrencia y dieta de los carnívoros tope de Achala (Influence of vegetation, settlements, roads and livestock on the occurrence and diet of carnivores in the upper belt of the mountains in central Argentina). PhD Thesis, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina.
Pucheta, E., Vendramini, F., Cabido, M., and Díaz, S. (1998). The effects of grazing on floristic composition, biomass and primary production in mountain grassland of Central Argentina. Acta Oecologica 19, 97–105.
| The effects of grazing on floristic composition, biomass and primary production in mountain grassland of Central Argentina.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Puig, S., Videla, F., and Cona, M. (1997). Diet and abundance of the guanaco (Lama guanicoe Müller 1776) in four habitats of northern Patagonia, Argentina. Journal of Arid Environments 36, 343–357.
| Diet and abundance of the guanaco (Lama guanicoe Müller 1776) in four habitats of northern Patagonia, Argentina.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Senft, R. L., Coughenour, M. B., Bailey, D. W., Rittenhouse, L. R., Sala, O. E., and Swift, D. M. (1987). Large herbivore foraging and ecological hierarchies. Bioscience 37, 789–799.
| Large herbivore foraging and ecological hierarchies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sosa, R., and Sarasola, H. (2005). Habitat use and social structure of an isolated population of guanacos (Lama guanicoe) in the Monte Desert, Argentina. European Journal of Wildlife Research 51, 207–209.
| Habitat use and social structure of an isolated population of guanacos (Lama guanicoe) in the Monte Desert, Argentina.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tavarone, E. G., Ruíz, L., Monguillot, J., and Ramírez, D. (2007). Proyecto piloto de reintroducción del guanaco (Lama guanicoe) en el Parque Nacional Quebrada del Condorito (the guanaco reintroduction project in the Quebrada del Condorito National Park). Administración de Parques Nacionales, Córdoba, Argentina. Available at: www.sib.gov.ar (accessed 1 November 2012)
Vaieretti, M. V., Cingolani, A. M., Pérez Harguindeguy, N., Gurvich, D., and Cabido, M. (2010). Does decomposition of standard material differ among grassland patches maintained by livestock? Austral Ecology 35, 935–943.
| Does decomposition of standard material differ among grassland patches maintained by livestock?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
von Müller, A. (2011). Factores ecológicos y de manejo en la selección de hábitat de herbívoros domésticos en las Sierras Grandes de Córdoba (Ecological factors in management and habitat selection of domestic herbivores in the upper belt of Córdoba mountains). PhD Thesis, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina.
Wakefield, S., Knowles, J., Zimmermann, W., and Van Dierendonck, M. (2002). Status and action plan for the Przewalski’s horse (Equus ferus przewalskii). In: ‘Equids: Zebras, Asses and Horses’. (Ed. P. Moehlman.) pp. 82–92. (IUCN Press: Cambridge.)
Young, J. R., and Franklin, W. (2004). Activity budget patterns in family-group and solitary territorial male guanacos. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 77, 617–625.
| Activity budget patterns in family-group and solitary territorial male guanacos.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |