Project
© Julián Hernandez
© Darío Podestá
in focus
Lama guanicoe
Scope of the project
Rhea pennata
Scope of the project
Equus caballus
Scope of the project
Zaedyus pichiy
Scope of the project
context
Human-animal conflicts are one of the major issues of current interest for those groups interested in nature conservation. This interest is not casual, since due to the productive -and urban- advance or, simply, due to the continuity of traditional production strategies without adapting to the environmental situation, more and more situations of impact for local fauna are exposed. Moreover, these situations are becoming increasingly relevant in a context of biodiversity extinction crisis. In Patagonia, the main conflicts are related to livestock production and the presence of still healthy populations of large herbivore species, such as guanacos and choiques, and their predators, such as pumas and foxes. But there are also problems of urban origin such as domestic dogs and cats, both in feral populations and those that are still domestic but roam freely, which impact the populations of wild birds and small mammals. The objective of our work is to address them with broad criteria, to generate answers to the problems and propose strategies that benefit mainly the fauna, but without ignoring the social problems and needs.
patagonia in action program
Andres Rey
Completed
Since 2018 we have been conducting surveys of guanacos, feral horses and rheas in order to estimate their abundance and spatial disposition in Patagonia NP and its surroundings. The objective is to monitor their populations (temporal trends) and analyze patterns in relation to use, environments and the altitudinal gradient of the area. The ultimate goal of this project is to generate important resources for decision making on a group of problematic species.
For the surveys we conducted line transects, both on foot and by vehicle, of 3600 m in length and undefined width. Throughout the transects we recorded the locations of the herbivore groups detected (using GPS, distance meter and compass), the species (guanacos, horses or rheas) and the size of the group. These data are used to estimate the abundance of each species in each season and to generate a georeferenced information system (GIS), which is continually updated. The total study area corresponds to 1350 km2, under the following management: Patagonia National Park, areas protected by Fundación Rewilding Argentina and a cattle ranch. Each of these areas is represented both above and at the foot of the Lake Buenos Aires Plateau.
The National Parks Administration, particularly Patagonia National Park, is collaborating with the project.
To date, a total of 4 seasonal (2018) and 6 summer (2018-2023) surveys have been conducted. The summer surveys of guanacos and feral horses allow us to begin to estimate a population trend (Fig. 1), while those of rheas should be analyzed using a different methodology. With each survey, the GIS is updated and a map is made with the locations of the recorded groups (Fig. 2). The analysis of the population trend and possible changes in the spatial disposition of the species under study are currently under analysis.
© Pablo Díaz
© Darío Podestá
© Eliseo Misciu
© Darío Podestá
Jorge Gallo
Completed
The piche is one of the 14 species of armadillos present in Argentina and is one of the two species that inhabit the Patagonian steppe. In Argentina it is categorized as "Near Threatened" because it has local extinctions in several areas throughout its distribution. The Patagonian population is in numerical decline due to habitat degradation and modification for productive purposes. Currently in Northern Patagonia, in the steppe region and the ecotone with the Patagonian forests (south of Neuquén and west of Río Negro), plantations of pinaceae exceed 26,000 hectares, while in the entire western region of the provinces of Neuquén, Rio Negro and Chubut they exceed 109,237 hectares. Thus, the advance of the Pinaceae forest frontier in northern Patagonia has the potential to become a new threat to this Armadillo. Therefore, the objective is to evaluate the effect of exotic pine forest plantations in the Patagonian steppe on the occurrence, frequency of use and food availability of the Piche in western Northern Patagonia.
During the spring-summer season, 15 random points in forest patches and another 15 points in the nearby steppe were sampled in northern Patagonia (Neuquén and Río Negro provinces). At each point we made 600 m transects and identified caves and burrows built by piches. At the same time, in each transect we installed three pitfall traps for soil invertebrates to evaluate the availability of food in each environment.
- Agustín Abba - CEPAVE-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
The most interesting results are that the Patagonian steppe represents more than 40% of the piche's habitat and is being replaced by pine forest plantations, in which the evidence of piches (caves and burrows) decreases in the plantations compared to the nearby steppe. The abundance and richness of invertebrates is low in the forest plantations, decreasing the availability of food. Conifer plantations in northern Patagonia negatively affect populations. This work was part of Jorge Gallo's postdoctoral project completed in 2024.
© Jono Dashper
© Dana Piedrabuena
© Florencia Barrionuevo
© Sophie Lei
Technical Team
Active
Predation of livestock by native predators (and invaders, such as bighorn sheep dogs) is one of the main causes of human-animal conflict. For this reason, the objective of understanding the predator communities and aspects of the ecology of several of these species became one of the program's major priorities. Specifically, the main objective of the project is to know the variations in presence and abundance of the different predator species in relation to the type of livestock management and environmental variables, with special emphasis on the variations in abundance associated with the different management actions directed at these species or as a consequence of the removal of some of these species. In addition, for some of the species we seek to obtain information on behavior and ecology.
The work is carried out in the west of Santa Cruz and in the central west of the province of Chubut. As the main work methodology, we made 5×5 or similar grids, depending on the work sector, and in them we placed two camera traps (baited) and made 600 m transects to identify the presence of signs (i.e. feces, hair remains, footprints). At the same time, we carried out surveys to livestock producers and cattle herders. Finally, geolocation of casual observations made during field work for each of the target species. Within the specific objective for each species, we are working with photo-trapping and fecal analysis to know aspects of their biology and natural history.
- Mauro Luccherini - Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas y Biomedicas Del Sur, Centro Cientifico Tecnologico CONICET.
© Julián Hernández
© Eliseo Misciu
© Adobe
© Miles Brengle
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