Foraging and vigilance time allocation in a guanaco (Lama guanicoe) population reintroduced in Quebrada del Condorito National Park (Córdoba, Argentina)

Abstract

In reintroduction projects, ethology studies play a significant role in evaluating the behaviour of the individuals in habitats where they are reintroduced. We studied foraging and vigilance time allocation of a guanaco (Lama guanicoe) population reintroduced in Quebrada del Condorito National Park (QCNP), in the central mountains of Córdoba, Argentina. On average, individuals showed a higher proportion of time invested in vigilance and a lower proportion of time invested in foraging than a previously studied guanaco population belonging to the same ecological region as the source population, suggesting that at the time of this study, the reintroduced population was not fully adapted to the new habitat or suffered from an increased predation pressure. On the other hand, as expected for the species, throughout the study period, males allocated more time to vigilance than females, both sexes increasing vigilance during the reproductive period, and females increasing foraging time allocation during the post-reproductive period. Taking into account that further reinforcement to the existing population is planned, the present results may contribute to the elaboration of management strategies aimed at the successful establishment of guanaco in QCNP.

Alpaca Field Behaviour When Cohabitating with Lambing Ewes

“…In both Phase 1 and 2 of this study the alpacas spent limited time (0.8%) displaying 'alert' behaviours and it is noted that only a single fox was observed on one occasion during the study. Previous research suggests that alert behaviours displayed by alpacas are likely to be opportunistic towards threats in their environment, as has been researched in other related species such as guanacos [47]. As there was only a single observed threat over the observation days of this work, it is likely that the alpacas did not have motivation to exhibit a high level of alert behaviour during the day.…”

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

“…Contrary to our predictions, group cohesion and vigilance were not affected by the chulengo/adult ratio, despite chulengos being the preferred prey. These results could be related to the low time allocated to vigilance by females in family groups, in which the male is the main vigilant (Barri & Fernández, ; Marino & Baldi, ). Finally, we did not detect differences in guanaco grouping behavior associated with their location within or outside Torres del Paine National Park.…”

Reintroducing Guanaco in the Upper Belt of Central Argentina: Using Population Viability Analysis to Evaluate Extinction Risk and Management Priorities

“…In turn, some management decisions, such as the absence of a pre-adaptation period in the first released groups, reduced the total number of established individuals [ 28 ]. Nevertheless, different studies conducted on the guanaco population reintroduced in QCNP indicated that the individuals that survive the critical post-release stage were adapted in terms of behaviour [ 25 ], habitat selection [ 26 ], and diet [ 27 ]. Preliminary evidence shows that the guanacos could contribute to the ecological restoration of the area (unpublished data), reinforcing the importance of this project focused on restoring natural processes rather than addressing only extinction risk [ 53 ].…”

“…In 2007, 113 individuals from a wild northern Patagonia population (40° 47'S, 66° 45'W) were released without being subject to a pre-adaptation period, of which 19 females and 17 males were radio- collared. Of all individuals released in 2007, only about 20% survived the first three months of the critical post-release period, with starvation and predation by puma ( Puma concolor ) being the most frequent causes of death [ 25 ]. In 2011, 25 individuals from a captive population from Buenos Aires (38°01'S, 61°40'W) were released; of these individuals, five females and two males were radio- collared.…”

“…In addition, different studies conducted during the last years evaluated the adaptation process of the reintroduced guanacos to the area. For example, reintroduced guanacos that survive the first three months of the critical post-release period respond adequately in terms of social group behaviour [ 25 ]; they positively selected grazing lawns from the different habitats available in the area [ 26 ]; and their diet consisted mostly of a group of palatable species of these grazing lawns [ 27 ]. Although the obtained information supports the decision of reintroducing the guanaco in QCNP, some aspects of this reintroduction process, such as the release method, do not always produce the expected results in terms of survival [ 28 ].…”