Niche Segregation between Wild and Domestic Herbivores in Chilean Patagonia
Author
dc.contributor.author
Iranzo, Esperanza C.
Author
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Traba, Juan
es_CL
Author
dc.contributor.author
Acebes, Pablo
es_CL
Author
dc.contributor.author
González, Benito A.
es_CL
Author
dc.contributor.author
Estades Marfán, Cristián
es_CL
Author
dc.contributor.author
Mata, Cristina
es_CL
Author
dc.contributor.author
Malo, Juan E.
es_CL
Admission date
dc.date.accessioned
2014-03-06T19:31:41Z
Available date
dc.date.available
2014-03-06T19:31:41Z
Publication date
dc.date.issued
2013
Cita de ítem
dc.identifier.citation
PLoS ONE 8(3): e59326
en_US
Identifier
dc.identifier.other
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059326
Identifier
dc.identifier.uri
https://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/120382
General note
dc.description
Artículo de publicación ISI
en_US
Abstract
dc.description.abstract
Competition arises when two co-occuring species share a limiting resource. Potential for competition is higher when species
have coexisted for a short time, as it is the case for herbivores and livestock introduced in natural systems. Sheep,
introduced in the late 19th century in Patagonia, bear a great resemblance in size and diet to the guanaco, the main native
herbivore in Patagonia. In such circumstances, it could be expected that the two species compete and one of them could be
displaced. We investigated spatial overlap and habitat selection by coexisting sheep and guanaco in winter and in summer.
Additionally, we studied habitat selection of the guanaco in a control situation free from sheep, both in summer and winter.
We also determined overlap between species in areas with different intensity of use (named preferred and marginal areas)
in order to further detect the potential level of competition in the case of overlapping. Guanaco and sheep showed
significantly different habitat preferences through all seasons, in spite of their spatial overlap at landscape scale.
Additionally, the habitat used by guanaco was similar regardless of the presence or absence of livestock, which further
indicates that sheep is not displacing guanaco where they coexist. These results suggest that habitat segregation between
guanaco and sheep is due to a differential habitat selection and not to a competitive displacement process. Therefore, the
potential for competition is considered low, contrary to what has been previously observed, although this could be a
density-dependent result.