The ecological role of native and introduced species in the diet of the pumaPuma concolorin southern Patagonia

Abstract

The ecological role of native and introduced species in the diet of the puma Puma concolor in southern Patagonia J u a n I g n a c i o Z a n ó n M a r t í n e z , A l e j a n d r o T r a v a i n i , S o n i a Z a p a t a D i e g o P r o c o p i o and M i g u e l Á n g e l S a n t i l l Á n Abstract There is evidence for the ecological extinction of the native prey of the puma Puma concolor in northwestern Argentine Patagonia. In this study we examine whether this is also the case in southern Patagonia. From 2004 to 2007 we examined the puma's diet in three protected areas and two sheep ranches in Santa Cruz province. A total of 282 puma scats were analysed. In two of the protected areas and in the ranches 60-74% of the puma's diet was native prey. Prey species were primarily guanaco Lama guanicoe, followed by Patagonian mara Dolichotis patagonum, lesser rhea Pterocnemia pennata pennata, Patagonian pichi Zaedyus pichiy and Magellanic penguin Spheniscus magellanicus. In the third protected area the main prey was the European hare Lepus europaeus. Our results show a clear difference in the diet of the puma in southern compared to north-western Patagonia. Large native herbivores (i.e. guanaco and lesser rhea) maintain their role as the main prey species for the puma in southern Patagonia. We suggest, therefore, that native prey could be restored to those areas of Argentine Patagonia, such as the north-west, where they are currently ecologically extinct. Facilitating native species recovery and/or restoration and applying more rigorous controls to prevent the introduction of potential alien prey species of the puma, both within and outside protected areas, needs to be evaluated as a regional strategy.

Hypercarnivorous apex predator could provide ecosystem services by dispersing seeds

“…Furthermore, cougars’ opportunistic consumption of highly gregarious and abundant birds have been previously reported. In Monte Leon National Park in southern Argentinian Patagonia, for example, the Magellanic penguin ( Spheniscus magellanicus ) was the most important native prey item in the diet of cougars in terms of occurrence (38.2% of Magellanic penguins vs. 25.5% of native ungulates) and second in importance among native prey in terms of biomass (24.3%) 21 .…”

Response of pumas (Puma concolor) to migration of their primary prey in Patagonia

“…Alternative native prey for pumas in La Payunia Reserve include the plains vizcacha ( Lagostomus maximus ), southern mountain vizcacha (Lagidium viscacia) , lesser rhea (Rhea pennata) , Patagonian mara ( Dolichotis patagonum) , European hare (Lepus europaeus) , pichi armadillo (Zaedyus pichiy) , elegant crested tinamou (Eudromia elegans) , and a variety of small mammals [e.g., tuco-tucos, ( Ctenomys spp . ) , southern mountain cavy ( Microcavia australis ), and Cricetid rodents] [ 20 , 35 , 36 ]. Smaller carnivores also occasionally may be consumed by pumas [e.g., S outh American grey fox (Lycalopex griseus ), Geoffroy’s cat (Leopardus geoffroyi) , and pampas cat (Leopardus colocolo) ].…”

La liebre europea Lepus europaeus(Lagomorpha: Leporidae) una especie invasora en el Perú

“…cultivos); b) ausencia de depredadores naturales efectivos y parásitos, tanto zorros, gatos y pumas aún no han aprendido a cazarlas, tal como ocurrió en el sur del Continente (Jaksic 1998) donde actualmente las liebres se constituyen en importante dieta de varios depredadores (Zanón-Martínez et al 2012); y c) una reducida presencia de competidores nativos, muchos de los que se encuentran en proceso de declinación (venados, guanacos, viscachas) (Novaro et al 2000, Farías & Kittlein 2008 La pregunta crucial en estos momentos es: ¿Qué pasará cuando lleguen a tierras más productivas del centro y norte del país? De acuerdo con su alta capacidad de dispersión, no debería tener dificultades para seguir avanzando hacia el norte, inclusive hasta la depresión de Huancabamba (Bonino et al 2010), recorriendo vastas áreas de puna perturbada, la que hacia el norte se hace más productiva y está ampliamente usada en agricultura.…”