Cooperative vigilance: The guanaco's (Lama guanicoe) key antipredator mechanism

Taraborelli, Paula Andrea; Gregorio, Pablo Francisco; Moreno, Pablo; Novaro, Andrés J.; Carmanchahi, Pablo

doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2012.06.002

Cited by 34 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…In open habitats, ungulates should detect and react to disturbances at greater distances because there are no escape habitats to seek refuge (Stankowich, 2008). In theory, ungulates in larger groups may spend more time being disturbed because they have a greater chance of detecting disturbances (Taraborelli et al (2012) for guanacos (Lama guanicoe)), and disturbance might be transmitted between group members (Stankowich, 2008). Groups of West Greenland caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus/tarandus) became aware of humans at larger distances than solitary individuals (Aastrup, 2000).…”

Section: Socialitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of power lines on ungulates and implications for power line routing and rights-of-way management

Bartzke¹,

May²,

Bevanger³

et al. 2014

Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv.

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Thousands of kilometres of power lines exist and more are planned. Ungulates that range over large areas are likely to encounter power lines, but a synthesis of power line effects on ungulates is lacking. Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) are suspected to avoid power lines up to distances of 4 km. In contrast, some forest ungulates preferentially forage in power line rights-of-way, cleared areas under power lines. We reviewed the factors that possibly influence avoidance and attraction effects of power lines on ungulates, construct a conceptual framework, and make suggestions on how to mitigate avoidance effects through power line routing and rights-of-way management. Power line construction, noise and electromagnetic fields are possible sources of disturbance, while rights-of-way management influences habitat use under power lines. Disturbance and altered habitat use can induce barrier and corridor effects, thereby influencing connectivity. Species-specific effects influence behavioural disturbance and habitat use. We found little evidence for behavioural disturbance of reindeer or forest ungulates under power lines. Forest ungulates could benefit from browsing in power line rights-of-way if they are managed to provide abundant and preferred forage as well as sufficient cover. However, power lines may facilitate access for hunters and predators. As a precaution, construction of power lines should be avoided in calving areas. To establish a causal relationship between the construction of power lines and potential avoidance, before-after-impact-control studies are recommended. More research is needed to make recommendations for the optimal design of power line networks.

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Section: Socialitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of power lines on ungulates and implications for power line routing and rights-of-way management

Bartzke¹,

May²,

Bevanger³

et al. 2014

Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv.

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“…While the social organization of guanacos has been the focus of much research (e.g., Acebes, Malo, & Traba, 2013;Franklin, 1982;Ortega & Franklin, 1995;Schroeder et al, 2014), uncertainty remains regarding the influence of predation risk on group formation and the factors that determine composition of family groups. This is because previous studies regarding the effects of predation risk on grouping behavior in guanacos have either been conducted in areas with strongly contrasting predation risk (presence/absence of predators; Marino, 2010;Marino & Baldi, 2008) or using humans as surrogates of predation risk (Taraborelli, Gregorio, Moreno, Novaro, & Carmanchahi, 2012;Taraborelli et al, 2014). No studies have evaluated antipredator responses of guanacos to gradual variation in predator occurrence and perceived predation risk.…”

Section: )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Predator occurrence and perceived predation risk determine grouping behavior in guanaco (Lama guanicoe)

et al. 2018

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Grouping behavior of social ungulates may depend on both predator occurrence and perceived predation risk associated with habitat structure, reproductive state, and density of conspecifics. Over 3 years, we studied grouping behavior of guanaco (Lama guanicoe) families in Chilean Patagonia during the birthing season and determined their response to variation in predator occurrence and perceived predation risk (habitat structure, calf/adult rate, and density of conspecifics). We considered the effect of two predators, puma (Puma concolor) and culpeo fox (Lycalopex culpaeus). We measured two common (family group size and vigilance) and one novel (family group cohesion) behavioral responses of guanaco. Our results show that guanaco family groups adapted their grouping behavior to both predator occurrence and perceived predation risk. Larger family groups were found in open habitats and areas with high puma occurrence, while guanacos stayed in small family groups in areas with high shrub cover or low visibility. Group cohesion increased in areas with higher occurrence of pumas and culpeo foxes, and also increased in smaller family groups and in areas with low guanaco density. Vigilance (number of vigilant adults) was mainly related to group size and visibility, increasing in areas with low visibility, while residual vigilance (vigilance after removing the group‐size effect) did not vary with the explanatory variables examined. Our results suggest that a mix of predator occurrence and perceived predation risk influences guanaco grouping behavior and highlights the importance of evaluating different antipredator responses together and considering all predator species in studies aimed at understanding ungulate behavior.

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“…Peaks in agonistic behaviour occur during the reproductive season, between November and February (Wilson & Franklin, ; Panebianco et al ., ). Although a great amount of baseline information on this wild camelid species has been generated in recent decades (Taraborelli et al ., ; Ovejero Aguilar, ; Schroeder et al ., ), there is no evidence of the relationships between dietary quality and allostatic mediators such as glucocorticoids. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to: (1) evaluate the influence of the reproductive season and sex on the energy demand and (2) determine the relationship between the energy demand and diet quality in an integrative way.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking diet quality and energy demand in free‐living guanacos: an eco‐physiological innovative approach

et al. 2019

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In adaptive terms, animals are subject to challenges imposed by their environment. To address physiological patterns in wild mammals, the non‐invasive study of glucocorticoid hormones has become the main approach through two well‐defined conceptual frameworks: one is related to stress responses, whereas another refers to the glucocorticoids as physiological mediators of the allostatic load, necessary for the maintenance of homeostasis. A key factor to analyse the physiology of wild animals is to understand the relationship between energetic demands and nutritional attributes. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of diet quality on physiological mediators of energy mobilization in two populations of wild guanacos (Lama guanicoe) from Northern Patagonia. In order to evaluate energy mobilization and its relationship with diet quality, we quantified nitrogen content and cortisol metabolite concentrations in fresh faeces. Samples were collected in two contrasting seasons (summer and winter, representing the breeding and non‐breeding seasons respectively). Summer was identified as the period of highest diet quality and energy mobilization, in both sexes and populations. We found quadratic relationships between cortisol levels and nitrogen percentage, which we hypothesize corresponds to two different factors: one of an energetic‐nutritional nature (during winter, the non‐reproductive season), and the other of an energetic‐reproductive nature (during summer, the reproductive season). Our evidence suggests variation in the administration of energy resources in guanacos in response to internal and external stimuli, giving rise to a novel Biphasic Model of energy demand. Our results reinforce the knowledge of the adaptive eco‐physiological attributes of guanaco, and we describe a new conceptual model which explains the energy management patterns for this species and possibly for other ungulates, within the breeding and non‐breeding seasons.

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Cooperative vigilance: The guanaco's (Lama guanicoe) key antipredator mechanism

Cited by 34 publications

References 49 publications

The effects of power lines on ungulates and implications for power line routing and rights-of-way management

The effects of power lines on ungulates and implications for power line routing and rights-of-way management

Predator occurrence and perceived predation risk determine grouping behavior in guanaco (Lama guanicoe)

Linking diet quality and energy demand in free‐living guanacos: an eco‐physiological innovative approach

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