Does the presence of livestock alter the trophic behaviour of sympatric populations of wild camelids Vicugna vicugna Molina 1782 and Lama guanicoe Müller 1976 (Artiodactyla: Camelidae)?: Evidence from Central Andes

Abstract

We described and compared the diets of two sympatric Andean camelids, during the humid season (austral summer) in a site of Northern Chile, in presence of domestic livestock. Results indicate that: 1) grasses and shrubs are the main component in the diet of both camelids, 2) shrubs were more consumed by V. vicugna; 3) V. vicugna and L. guanicoe used the same trophic resources but in different proportions; 4) in mountain environments, wetlands exploitation by wild camelids seems restricted by domestic cattle, which would cause the displacement of Vicuñas and Guanacos to suboptimal habitat for feeding. KEYWORDS:Guanaco, Vicuña, livestock, diet, herbivory. RESUMENDescribimos y comparamos la dieta de dos poblaciones simpátricas de camélidos silvestres, durante la estación húmeda (verano) en un sector del norte de Chile en presencia de ganado domesticado. Nuestros resultados indican que: 1) gramíneas y arbustos son el principal componente de la dieta de ambos camélidos; 2) arbustos fueron consumidos principalmente por V. vicugna; 3) V. vicugna and L. guanicoe utilizan los mismos recursos trófi cos pero en diferentes proporciones; 4) en ambientes de montaña, el uso de vegas altoandinas por parte de camélidos silvestres estaría siendo restringido por la presencia de ganado domesticado, el cual provocaría el desplazamiento de ambos camélidos a zonas subóptimas de alimentación.

Botanical Composition and Diet Quality of the Vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna Mol.) in Highland Range of Parinacota, Chile

“…The contribution of grass species has been considered by various authors as the main component of the vicuña diet [7,8], representing around 70% of the total consumed species [4,5]. This coincides with what was obtained in this work but differs from results presented by Tirado et al [41], who report percentages of grasses of around 40% in vicuña diets in the Atacama Highland grassland. This could be attributed to important differences in the type of natural grasslands, since in our experimental conditions, the environment is more humid and the presence of shrub species was very low, not even being detected in the composition of the grasslands, as shown in Table 1.…”

“…Borgnia et al [ 4 ] and Mosca and Puig [ 5 ], have also found a higher proportion of shrubs in the vicuña diet (10 to 17%), although under conditions that differ from the present study in terms of the availability and diversity of this group of plants. Even higher proportions are reported in a study by Tirado et al [ 41 ], who point out a contribution of shrub species of almost 34% in the summer diet of vicuñas in prairies of the Atacama highland ranges. Benítez et al [ 46 ] emphasize the impact of the shrub species of the steppes, on the quality of the vicuña diet, considering this group as an important resource in the last period of the wet–season, at which time the shrubs show low lignified twigs with high protein content.…”

Lithium and Boron in Calcified Tissues of Vicuna and Their Relation to Chronic Exposure by Water Ingestion in The Andean Lithium Triangle

“…Vicuna (V. vicugna), an endangered species protected by law, are found in the high plateau areas, between 3000 and 4600 m above sea level (Franklin 2011; Figure 2). Adult specimens of vicuna measure between 1.45 and 1.60 m, and usually weigh 35 to 65 kg (Cajal 1989;Aguilar et al 1995;Borgnia et al 2008;Cassini et al 2009;Franklin 2011;Tirado et al 2016).…”

“…The vicuna diet is based on grasses and shrubs (~80%), complemented by pseudograsses and herbs (Tirado et al 2016). These proportions are variable, however, and change following the sedentary and migratory tendencies of different populations according to seasonal and environmental restrictions (Franklin 1982;Contreras et al 2006).…”

“…Living beings in the Andean plateau are exposed to altitudes of more than 3000 m above sea level, high daily thermic amplitudes, and regional aridity. Vicuna (Vicugna vicugna) is a wild Andean camelid living under these extreme conditions in the high plateau areas (Tirado et al 2016, and references therein; Figure 2B). During periods of enhanced aridity © 2019 SETAC wileyonlinelibrary.com/ETC (April-November), the adaptation strategy of vicuna consists of drinking from brine pools within the salt pans ( Figure 2C).…”