Componentes ambientales influyentes en el uso de sitio de mamíferos carnívoros en un área protegida de Chile Central.
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Date
2025
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Universidad de Concepción
Abstract
Los mamíferos carnívoros que habitan en paisajes modificados por actividades antropogénicas en Chile central enfrentan los riesgo de atropellos, conflictos con humanos, contacto con animales domésticos y sus patógenos. Por ello, las áreas silvestres protegidas son elementos de conservación fundamentales para estas especies nativas en regiones con alta antropización, en especial para aquellas especies que dependen de la cobertura de bosque nativo y los recursos asociados al mismo. Sin embargo, las áreas protegidas en la zona central del país abarcan superficies insuficientes para mantener poblaciones viables, arriesgando su persistencia a largo plazo. Por lo anterior, el objetivo de este trabajo fue identificar los factores bióticos, abióticos y antropogénicos que influyen en la probabilidad de uso de sitio de carnívoros habitando un área protegida en Chile central, con el fin de aportar información relevante para su conservación. Se espera encontrar una relación positiva con la ocurrencia de recursos presa y una influencia negativa de variables antropogénicas.
Para ello, se dispuso de un monitoreo continuo de 424 días mediante 30 cámaras trampa distribuidas en sectores con distintas características ambientales. Se empleó un modelo de ocupación single-species, single-season, para estimar mediante métodos de máxima verosimilitud la probabilidad de uso del sitio considerando la detección imperfecta de las especies. Se registraron seis especies de carnívoros nativos. En general, el uso de sitio se relaciona positivamente con la disponibilidad de pequeños mamíferos y la densidad de vegetación, y varió en relación a la elevación. Por el contrario, las variables antropogénicas evaluadas no evidenciaron efecto alguno.
Las relaciones halladas sugieren una tendencia de los carnívoros a utilizar sitios en relación a la disponibilidad de presas vertebradas e invertebradas, y a condiciones favorables para el refugio, movilidad y éxito de caza. Por lo anterior, la persistencia de disponibilidad de presas y la complejidad estructural del hábitat favorecerían la conservación de estos depredadores.
Carnivorous mammals inhabiting human-modified landscapes in central Chile face risks such as roadkills, human-wildlife conflicts, interactions with domestic animals and their pathogens. Native forest cover is essential for their conservation in these regions. Therefore, protected areas are fundamental conservation elements for these native species in regions with high levels of human disturbance, especially for those that depend on native forest cover and its associated resources. However, protected areas in central Chile do not cover sufficient land to maintain viable populations, putting their long-term survival at risk. The aim of this study was to identify the biotic, abiotic, and anthropogenic factors that influence the occurrence of carnivores inhabiting a protected area in central Chile, in order to provide relevant information for their conservation. A positive relationship with the occurrence of prey resources and a negative influence of anthropogenic variables are expected to be found. Continuous monitoring was carried out over 424 days using 30 camera traps distributed across areas with different environmental characteristics. A single-species, single-season occupancy model was used to estimate site use probability while accounting for imperfect detection of species. Six native mammal carnivore species were recorded. Overall, site use was positively related to the availability of small mammals and vegetation density, and varied according to elevation. In contrast, the anthropogenic variables evaluated showed no effect. The relationships found suggest that carnivores tend to occupy sites according to vertebrate and invertebrate prey availability and favorable conditions for shelter, mobility, and hunting success. Therefore, the persistence of prey populations and the structural complexity of the habitat are key factors to the conservation of carnivore populations in central Chile.
Carnivorous mammals inhabiting human-modified landscapes in central Chile face risks such as roadkills, human-wildlife conflicts, interactions with domestic animals and their pathogens. Native forest cover is essential for their conservation in these regions. Therefore, protected areas are fundamental conservation elements for these native species in regions with high levels of human disturbance, especially for those that depend on native forest cover and its associated resources. However, protected areas in central Chile do not cover sufficient land to maintain viable populations, putting their long-term survival at risk. The aim of this study was to identify the biotic, abiotic, and anthropogenic factors that influence the occurrence of carnivores inhabiting a protected area in central Chile, in order to provide relevant information for their conservation. A positive relationship with the occurrence of prey resources and a negative influence of anthropogenic variables are expected to be found. Continuous monitoring was carried out over 424 days using 30 camera traps distributed across areas with different environmental characteristics. A single-species, single-season occupancy model was used to estimate site use probability while accounting for imperfect detection of species. Six native mammal carnivore species were recorded. Overall, site use was positively related to the availability of small mammals and vegetation density, and varied according to elevation. In contrast, the anthropogenic variables evaluated showed no effect. The relationships found suggest that carnivores tend to occupy sites according to vertebrate and invertebrate prey availability and favorable conditions for shelter, mobility, and hunting success. Therefore, the persistence of prey populations and the structural complexity of the habitat are key factors to the conservation of carnivore populations in central Chile.
Description
Tesis presentada para optar al título de Biólogo/a.
Keywords
Mamíferos Carnívoros, Habitat (Ecología), Comunidades bióticas