We described an efflcient low-impact technique for capture of neonate ungulatets that was field-tested for 5 years on guanacos at Torres del Paine National Park in southern Chile. Hand capture of 435 young guanacos (chulengos) involved... more
We described an efflcient low-impact technique for capture of neonate ungulatets that was field-tested for 5 years on guanacos at Torres del Paine National Park in southern Chile. Hand capture of 435 young guanacos (chulengos) involved detection, approacahnd capture, tagging and processing, and reuniting the neonate and mother. Most captured chulengos( 85%) were <1day old, 78% were born between1000-1400 hours, 72% were captured within 20m of a family group, 51.4% were males, and males and females weighed the same.
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CONCLUSIONS Guanacos in southern Chile have rebounded and are doing exceptionally well in protected areas rep-resenting only a micropercentage of their original range in this region, now dominated by grazing agroecosytems. The primary... more
CONCLUSIONS
Guanacos in southern Chile have rebounded and are doing exceptionally well in protected areas rep-resenting only a micropercentage of their original range in this region, now dominated by grazing agroecosytems. The primary problem is the future of guanacos on private lands where high densities cause
increased competition with sheep and dissatisfaction
from land owners. Chilean conservationists and scientists are striving to manage wild guanacos for sustained-yield production of meat and wool products that would be of economic benefit to ranchers. Research on meat and wool, preliminary experiences with captive guanacos, long-term ecological studies,
and capture and shearing experiments are encourag- ing. Problems and obstacles remain. Strong momen- tum, however, has been established towards achiev- ing the goal of sustained-yield management for marketable products. Much remains to be accomplished, but the benefits of sustained-yield management of guanacos are numerous (Bas 1993, Bas et al. 1995) in- cluding: (1) survival of the guanaco; (2) an alternative and complementary source of income; (3) land- owner stewardship, involvement, and cooperation in guanaco conservation and use; and (4) the guanaco would become a pioneering model of sustained use for other wildlife species in Chile.
Guanacos in southern Chile have rebounded and are doing exceptionally well in protected areas rep-resenting only a micropercentage of their original range in this region, now dominated by grazing agroecosytems. The primary problem is the future of guanacos on private lands where high densities cause
increased competition with sheep and dissatisfaction
from land owners. Chilean conservationists and scientists are striving to manage wild guanacos for sustained-yield production of meat and wool products that would be of economic benefit to ranchers. Research on meat and wool, preliminary experiences with captive guanacos, long-term ecological studies,
and capture and shearing experiments are encourag- ing. Problems and obstacles remain. Strong momen- tum, however, has been established towards achiev- ing the goal of sustained-yield management for marketable products. Much remains to be accomplished, but the benefits of sustained-yield management of guanacos are numerous (Bas 1993, Bas et al. 1995) in- cluding: (1) survival of the guanaco; (2) an alternative and complementary source of income; (3) land- owner stewardship, involvement, and cooperation in guanaco conservation and use; and (4) the guanaco would become a pioneering model of sustained use for other wildlife species in Chile.
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First assessment of South America's northern-most Guanaco population: numbers, distribution, structure, behavior, habitat, and management recommendations
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SEE FULL PUBLICATION
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Vicuna (Vicugna vicugna) behavioral ecology and social organization was studied at the Pampa Galeras National Vicuna Reserve in southern Peru. With its specialized territorial system, it is one of the few ungulates to defend a year-round... more
Vicuna (Vicugna vicugna) behavioral ecology and social organization was studied at the Pampa Galeras National Vicuna Reserve in southern Peru. With its specialized territorial system, it is one of the few ungulates to defend a year-round feeding territory and a separate sleeping territory. Within their socially isolated territories, a family group feeds, sleeps, reproduces and raises its young. Non-territorial males gather into all male groups and are prevented from utilizing occupied and preferred habitat by resident territorial males. The territorial male's role in the system is strategic: he not only determines the location, limits, and size of his territory, but he regulates the number of animals within his family group by accepting or rejecting outsiders and expelling juvenile members.
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The ecology of the Patagonia puma was studied in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. Thirteen pumas were captured from 1986 to 1989 and equipped with radio transmitters. During the winter of 1988 there was one puma per 17 km2 in the... more
The ecology of the Patagonia puma was studied in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. Thirteen pumas were captured from 1986 to 1989 and equipped with radio transmitters. During the winter of 1988 there was one puma per 17 km2 in the 200 km2 study area. Home ranges varied from 24 to 107 km2. Female home ranges overlapped with those of other males and females extensively, but male ranges overlapped each other for only short time periods. Seven adult pumas had home ranges extending outside the park boundaries and at least three preyed on sheep. Guanacos Lama guanicoe, especially young animals, were the puma's most impor- tant prey item by biomass, but European hares Lepus capensis were preyed upon more than expected relative to available biomass. Of 731 guanaco skulls collected from 1979 to 1988, 33% showed clear evidence of having been killed by pumas. Over the past decade puma numbers are believed to have increased in the park, perhaps in response to an increase in guanaco numbers and continued protection. With decreased hunting pressure and harassment by horses and dogs, pumas have habituated to people and are being observed more often by park visitors. 5 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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John Hamilton, spirited and visionary Scottish immigrant to the Falklands in the early 1880s, was responsible for the introduction of guanacos into the Falkland Islands. While there are some gaps in the historical events, the enigma of... more
John Hamilton, spirited and visionary Scottish immigrant to the Falklands in the early 1880s, was responsible for the introduction of guanacos into the Falkland Islands. While there are some gaps in the historical events, the enigma of how and why guanacos were introduced to a single island in the South Atlantic Ocean is understood. Today, Staats Island, as a closed system, is a rare natural experiment in progress. It offers unique opportunities for addressing advanced questions in ungulate population, behavioural and genetic ecology.
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(See paper)
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By the mid-1900s the guanaco (Lama guani- coe) approached extinction in southern South America due to habitat destruction and hunting. In order to maintain the ecological prominence of this iconic species, as well as assist in the... more
By the mid-1900s the guanaco (Lama guani- coe) approached extinction in southern South America due to habitat destruction and hunting. In order to maintain the ecological prominence of this iconic species, as well as assist in the management of populations that are emerging economically while increasing in conservation value, accurate and potentially rapid estimates of effective pop ulation size (Ne) (demographic and/or genetic) are essen- tial. Estimates of Ne generally focus on the genetic effective population size; however, we posited that both parameters may be necessary to provide more accurate and timely estimates. Therefore, we examined the performance of three demographic and four genetic estimators of Ne of guanacos in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile, at different years and time intervals between 1987 and 1997. We compared our estimates with census estimates of the adult population size (Nac) during the same time period. Average Ne/Nac ratios of demographic estimates varied between 0.04 and 0.99 of the adult census size. Genetic estimates varied between 0.02 and 0.08 of the adult census size. Based upon group composition and population size (n = 82) of guanacos in 1975, the number of breeding adults was 44 animals. Mean Ne of the single-sample and temporal genetic estimators was 43.1, and 34.3, respec- tively; estimated Ne of one of the demographic estimators was 41. Our findings suggest that intermittent genetic estimates of Ne (via fecal samples, carcasses, blood collection during capture, and/or other non-invasive methods) can provide crucial information regarding the genetic integrity of increasingly isolated populations of wild South American camelids. Considering the overall performance of these estimators, and differences in how each functions, we recommend an integrative approach using both genetic and demographic estimators, to evaluate Ne for the wild South American camelids and other species with polygynous mating systems.
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SEE PAPER
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A comparison is made of the socioecology of South America's wild Camelids, the Vicuña and Guanaco. Early classical paper summarizing what was known at that time. See paper for full abstract.