Does the presence of livestock alter the trophic behaviour of sympatric populations of wild camelids <i>Vicugna vicugna</i> Molina 1782 and <i>Lama guanicoe</i> Muller 1976 (Artiodactyla: Camelidae)? Evidence from Central Andes
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Date
2016
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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 Vicunas and Guanacos to suboptimal habitat for feeding.
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Guanaco, Vicuna, livestock, diet, herbivory