Guanaco’s diet and forage preferences in Nothofagus forest environments of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

  • Claudia-Pamela Quinteros Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico (CIEFAP), Esquel, Argentina.
  • José-Omar Bava Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico (CIEFAP), Esquel, Argentina. Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia “San Juan Bosco”. Esquel, Argentina.
  • Miriam-Edith Gobbi Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche-Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Bariloche, Argentina.
  • Guillermo-Emilio Defossé Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico (CIEFAP), Esquel, Argentina. Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia “San Juan Bosco”. Esquel, Argentina.
Keywords: feces analysis, forest sustainability, forest understory, micro-histological analyses, Patagonia

Abstract

Aim of study: Guanaco (Lama guanicoe Müller), is a South American native ungulate widely distributed in Patagonia, which in the island of Tierra del Fuego (TF), extends its habitat into Nothofagus spp. forests. Within these forests, guanacos consume lenga (Nothofagus pumilio) leaves and twigs, and other understory species. The aim of this work was to determine: 1) the spring and summer diet of free ranging guanacos, and 2) which plants, grown in the forest understory, guanacos do prefer, or avoid, in these seasons of great forage abundance.

Area of study: Tierra del Fuego (Argentina), on three representative areas which combined Nothofagus forests and adjacent meadows (vegas).

Material and Methods: Guanacos’ diet was determined by comparing epidermal and non-epidermal plant fragments with micro-histological analyses of feces. The analysis was made from composite samples of fresh feces, collected at the seasons of maximum forage productivity (spring and summer).

Main results: During spring, 48% of guanacos’ diet was composed of lenga leaves, 30% of grass-like species, 15% of grasses, and less than 7% of herbs, shrubs, and lichens. In summer, 40% of the diet was composed of grasses, 30% of lenga leaves, 25% of grass-like species and the rest corresponded to herbs, shrubs, and lichens. Within the forest understory, guanaco selected lenga leaves and twigs, grass species were consumed according to their availability (or sometimes rejected), while other herbs were not consumed at all.

Research highlights: Guanacos’ consumption preference for lenga, even considering the high availability of other forages, could adversely affect forest regeneration.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Claudia-Pamela Quinteros, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico (CIEFAP), Esquel, Argentina.
Bióloga. Trabajo en el tema de efecto de disturbios en diversos componenetes de los ecosistemas de bosque de lenga (Nothofagus pumilio) en la Patagonia Argentina.

References

Arias N, Feijóo MS, Quinteros CP, Bava JO, 2015. Composición botánica de la dieta del guanaco (Lama guanicoe) en la Reserva Corazón de la Isla, Tierra del Fuego (Argentina): utilización estacional de Nothofagus spp. Bosque (Valdivia) 36: 71-79. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-92002015000100008

Baldi B, Pelliza-Sbriller A, Elston D, Albon SD, 2004. High potential for competition between guanacos and sheep in Patagonia. J. Wildl. Manage. 68: 924-938. https://doi.org/10.2193/0022-541X(2004)068[0924:HPFCBG]2.0.CO;2

Baldi R, Campagna C, Saba S, 1997. Abundancia y distribución del guanaco (Lama guanicoe), en el NE del Chubut, Patagonia Argentina. Mastozool Neotrop. 4: 5-15.

Baldi R, De Lamo DA, Failla M, Ferrando P, Funes M, Nugent P, Puig S, Rivera S, Von Thüngen J, 2006. Plan Nacional de Manejo del Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) República Argentina. Secretaría de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable de la Nación, p. 37.

Bank MS, Sarno RJ, Franklin WL, 2003. Spatial distribution of guanaco mating sites in southern Chile: conservation implications. Biol. Conserv. 112: 427-434. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(02)00342-7

Barri FR, Falczuk V, Cingolani AM, Díaz S, 2014. Dieta de la población de guanacos (Lama guanicoe) reintroducida en el Parque Nacional Quebrada del Condorito, Argentina. Ecología Austral 24: 203-211.

Barrios-Garcia MN, Relva MA, Kitzberger T, 2012. Patterns of use and damage by exotic deer on native plant communities in northwestern Patagonia. Eur. J. Wildl. Res. 58: 137-146. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-011-0554-6

Bava JO, Rechene DC, 2004. Dinámica de la regeneración de lenga (Nothofagus pumilio (Poepp. et Endl) Krasser) como base para la aplicación de sistemas silvícolas. In: Arturi, MF, Frangi, JL, Goya, JF (Eds.), Ecología y Manejo de los Bosques de Argentina. Editorial de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, pp. 1-22.

Boelcke O, 1957. Comunidades herbáceas del Norte de la Patagonia y sus relaciones con la ganadería. . RIA (Bs. As.) 11: 5-98.

Bonino N, Pelliza Sbriller A, 1991. Composición botánica de la dieta del guanaco (Lama guanicoe) en dos ambientes contrastantes de Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Ecología Austral 1: 97-102.

Bonino N, Fernández E, 1994. Distribución general y abundancia de guanacos (Lama guanicoe) en diferentes ambientes de Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Ecología Austral 4: 79-85.

Cassola AL, 1988. Los Mallines. Revista Presencia INTA 16: 11-14.

Clausen JC, Ortega IM, Glaude CM, Relyea RA, Garay G, Guineo O, 2006. Classification of wetlands in Patagonian National Park, Chile. Wetlands 26: 217–229. https://doi.org/10.1672/0277-5212(2006)26[217:COWIAP]2.0.CO;2

Di Rienzo JA, Casanoves F, Balzarini MG, Gonzalez L, Tablada M, Robledo CW, 2015. InfoStat versión 2015. In: Grupo InfoStat, F, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina (Ed.).

Flores CE, Cingolani AM, von Müller A, Barri FR, 2013. Habitat selection by reintroduced guanacos (Lama guanicoe) in a heterogeneous mountain rangeland of central Argentina. Rangeland J. 34: 439-445. https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ12040

Franklin WL, 1982. Biology, ecology, and relationship to man of the South American camelids In: Mares, MA, Genoways, HH (Eds.), Mammalian Biology in South America. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, pp. 457-489.

González BA, Palma RE, Zapata B, Marín JC, 2006a. Taxonomic and biogeographical status of guanaco Lama guanicoe (Artiodactyla, Camelidae). Mammal Review 36: 157-178. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2907.2006.00084.x

González ME, Donoso Z. C, Ovalle P, Martínez Pastur G, 2006b. Nothofagus pumilio (Poep. et End) Krasser. Lenga, roble blanco, le-ar, roble de Tierra del Fuego. In: Donoso Z., C (Ed.), Las especies arbóreas de los bosques templados de Chile y Argentina. Autoecología, Santiago, Chile, pp. 486-500.

Gordon IJ, 2003. Browsing and grazing ruminants: are they different beasts? Forest Ecol. Manag. 181: 13-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(03)00124-5

Hofmann RR, 1989. Evolutionary steps of Ecophysiological adaptation and diversification of rumiants: a comparative view of their digestive systems. Oecologia 78: 443 - 457. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00378733

Holechek JL, Vavra M, 1981. The effects of slide and frequency observation numbers on the precision of microhistological analysis. J. Range Manage. 34: 337-338. https://doi.org/10.2307/3897865

Holechek JL, Gross B, 1982. Evaluation of different calculation procedures for microhistological analysis. J. Range Manage. 35: 721-723. https://doi.org/10.2307/3898248

Latour MC, Pelliza Sbriller A, 1981. Clave para la determinación de la dieta de herbívoros en el N.O. de la Patagonia. RIA (Bs. As.) 16: 109-152.

Lechowicz MJ, 1982. The Sampling Characteristics of Electivity Indices. Oecología (Berlín) 52: 22-30. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349007

Marín JC, Spotorno A, Wheeler J, 2006. Sistemática molecular y filogeografía de camélidos Sudamericanos: implicancias para su conservacion y manejo. In: Vilá, B (Ed.), Investigacion, conservacion y manejo de vicu-as. Proyecto MACS Manejo Sostenible de Camélidos Silvestres, Buenos Aires, Argentina, pp. 85–100.

Martínez Pastur G, Lencinas MV, Cellini JM, Peri PL, Soler Esteban R, 2009. Timber management with variable retention in Nothofagus pumilio forests of Southern Patagonia. Forest Ecol. Manag. 258: 436-443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2009.01.048

Martínez Pastur G, Soler Esteban R, Lencinas MV, Borrelli L, 2010. Indirect estimation of landscape uses by Lama guanicoe and domestic herbivorous through the study of diet composition in South Patagonia. In: Azevedo, JC, Feliciano, M, Castro, J, Pinto, MA (Eds.), Proceedings of the IUFRO Landscape Ecology Working Group International Conference. Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.

McNaughton SJ, 1983. Compensatory plant growth as a response to herbivory. Oikos 40: 329-336. https://doi.org/10.2307/3544305

McNaughton SJ, 1986. Grazing lawns: on domesticated and wild grazers. American Naturalist 128: 937-939. https://doi.org/10.1086/284615

Montes C, De Lamo DA, Zavatti J, 2000. Distribución de abundancias de guanacos (Lama guanicoe) en los distintos ambientes de Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Mastozool Neotrop. 7: 23-31.

Moraga CA, Funes MC, Pizarro JC, Brice-o C, Novaro AJ, 2015. Effects of livestock on guanaco Lama guanicoe density, movements and habitat selection in a forest–grassland mosaic in Tierra del Fuego, Chile. Oryx 49: 30-41. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605312001238

Mu-oz AE, Simonetti JA, 2013. Diet of guanaco in sheep-free rangeland in Tierra del Fuego, Chile. RCIA 40: 185-191.

Mu-oz González AE, 2008. Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) browsing on lenga (Nothofagus pumilio) regeneration in Tierra del Fuego. Universidad de Chile, Santiago, p. 37.

Pelliza Sbriller A, Willems P, Nakamatsu V, Manero A, 1997. Atlas Dietario de Herbívoros Patagónicos. Somlo, R. (Ed.) PRODESAR-INTA-GTZ, Bariloche, Argentina, p. 109.

Pinto Jiménez C, Martín Espada C, Cid Vázquez M, 2010. Camélidos Sudamericanos: clasificación, orígen y características. RCCV 4: 23-36.

Pisano VE, 1977. Fitogeografía de Fuego - Patagonia Chilena I. - Comunidades vegetales entre las latitudes 52° y 56 ° S. Anales Instituto Patagónico Punta Arenas 8: 121-250.

Puig S, Videla F, Monge S, Roig V, 1996. Seasonal variations in guanaco diet (Lama guanicoe Müller 1776) and food availability in northern Patagonia, Argentina J. Arid Environ. 34: 215-224. https://doi.org/10.1006/jare.1996.0103

Puig S, Videla F, Cona MI, 1997. Diet and abundance of the guanaco (Lama guanicoe Müller 1776) in four habitats of northern Patagonia, Argentina. J. Arid Environ. 36: 343-357. https://doi.org/10.1006/jare.1996.0186

Puig S, Rosi MI, Videla F, Mendez E, 2011. Summer and winter diet of the guanaco and food availability for a High Andean migratory population (Mendoza, Argentina). Mammalian Biology - Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde 76: 727-734.

Raedeke KJ, 1980. Food habits of the guanaco (Lama guanicoe) of Tierra del Fuego, Chile. Turrialba 30: 177-181.

Raedeke KJ, 1982. Habitat use by guanacos (Lama guanicoe) and sheep on common range, Tierra del Fuego, Chile. Turrialba 32: 309-314.

Raffaele E, Veblen TT, Blackhall M, Tercero-Bucardo N, 2011. Synergistic influences of introduced herbivores and fire on vegetation change in northern Patagonia, Argentina. J. Veg. Sci. 22: 59-71. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1654-1103.2010.01233.x

Rebertus AJ, Veblen TT, 1993. Structure and tree-fall gap dynamics of old-growth Nothofagus forests in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. J. Veg. Sci. 4: 641-654. https://doi.org/10.2307/3236129

Relva MA, Veblen TT, 1998. Impacts of introduced large herbivores on Austrocedrus chilensis forests in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Forest Ecol. Manag. 108: 27-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(97)00313-7

Renison D, Chartier MP, Menghi M, Marcora PI, Torres RC, Giorgis M, Hensen I, Cingolani AM, 2015. Spatial variation in tree demography associated to domestic herbivores and topography: Insights from a seeding and planting experiment. Forest Ecol. Manag. 335: 139–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2014.09.036

San Martin F, Bryant FC, 1989. Nutrition of domesticated South American llamas and alpacas. Small Ruminant Res. 2: 191-216. https://doi.org/10.1016/0921-4488(89)90001-1

Schiavini A, Escobar J, Deferrari G, 2009. Guanaco distribution and abundance in central Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. X Congreso Internacional de Mastozoología, Mendoza, Argentina

Searle KR, Shipley LA, 2008. The Comparative Feeding Bahaviour of Large Browsing and Grazing Herbivores. In: Gordon, IJ, Prins, HHT (Eds.), The Ecology of Browsing and Grazing. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, pp. 117-148. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-72422-3_5

Soler Esteban R, Martínez Pastur G, Lencinas MV, Borrelli L, 2011. Differential forage use between large native and domestic herbivores in Southern Patagonian Nothofagus forests. Agroforest. Syst. 85: 397-409. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-011-9430-3

Soler Esteban R, Martínez Pastur G, Lencinas M, Borrelli L, 2013. Seasonal diet of Lama guanicoe (Camelidae: Artiodactyla) in a heterogeneous landscape of South Patagonia. Bosque (Valdivia) 34: 129-141.

Veblen TT, Mermoz M, Martin C, Kitzberger T, 1992. Ecological impacts of introduced animals in Nahuel Huapi Natinal Park, Argentina. Conserv. Biol. 6: 71-83. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1739.1992.610071.x

Williams OB, 1969. An improved technique for identification of plant fragments in herbivore feces. J. Range Manage. 22: 51-52. https://doi.org/10.2307/3896035

Wurstten A, Novaro A, Walker RS, 2014. Habitat use and preference by guanacos, vicu-as, and livestock in an altitudinal gradient in northwest Argentina. Eur. J. Wildl. Res. 60: 35-43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-013-0748-1

Published
2017-05-29
How to Cite
Quinteros, C.-P., Bava, J.-O., Gobbi, M.-E., & Defossé, G.-E. (2017). Guanaco’s diet and forage preferences in Nothofagus forest environments of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Forest Systems, 26(1), e004. https://doi.org/10.5424/fs/2017261-09164
Section
Research Articles