Conectividad de las poblaciones de Puma concolor entre la Cordillera de Los Andes y la Cordillera de la Costa.
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Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universidad de Concepción
Abstract
El estudio aborda la problemática de la fragmentación del hábitat y la pérdida de conectividad funcional en paisajes altamente intervenidos del centro-sur de Chile, enfocándose en las poblaciones de puma (Puma concolor). Esta especie, ampliamente distribuida en América, depende de grandes áreas de hábitat conectadas para mantener su flujo genético y viabilidad poblacional. El objetivo principal fue analizar la conectividad potencial entre la Cordillera de la Costa y la Cordillera de los Andes, proponiendo corredores ecológicos que consideren las necesidades de hábitat y movilidad de la especie, así como las barreras actuales. Se aplicaron métodos de modelación de conectividad basados en la teoría de circuitos y análisis de resistencia del paisaje, empleando variables relacionadas con la cobertura del suelo, pendientes y la distribución conocida del puma. Los resultados revelaron áreas críticas para la conectividad, destacando sectores con alta centralidad como nodos clave en la red ecológica. También se identificaron barreras significativas, como carreteras y zonas urbanas, que fragmentan el hábitat y limitan los desplazamientos de los pumas. Las conclusiones subrayan la necesidad de implementar corredores ecológicos para conectar áreas núcleo y reducir el impacto de las barreras, así como de integrar esta información en la planificación territorial para mitigar la pérdida de biodiversidad. Este trabajo proporciona información espacialmente explícita para guiar estrategias de conservación en un contexto de creciente presión antropogénica, destacando la importancia de la conectividad funcional en la conservación de especies de gran movilidad como el puma.
The study addresses the issue of habitat fragmentation and the loss of functional connectivity in highly altered landscapes of central-southern Chile, focusing on puma (Puma concolor) populations. This species, widely distributed across the Americas, relies on large connected habitat areas to maintain genetic flow and population viability. The main objective was to analyze the potential connectivity between the Coast Mountain Range and the Andes Mountains, proposing ecological corridors that account for the species' habitat and mobility requirements, as well as existing barriers. Connectivity modeling methods based on circuit theory and landscape resistance analysis were applied, using variables such as land cover, slope, and the known distribution of pumas. The results identified critical areas for connectivity, highlighting sectors with high centrality as key nodes in the ecological network. Significant barriers, such as roads and urban areas, were also identified as fragmenting the habitat and limiting puma movements. The conclusions emphasize the need to implement ecological corridors to connect core areas and reduce the impact of barriers, as well as to integrate this information into land-use planning to mitigate biodiversity loss. This study provides spatially explicit information to guide conservation strategies in a context of increasing anthropogenic pressure, underscoring the importance of functional connectivity in the conservation of highly mobile species like the puma.
The study addresses the issue of habitat fragmentation and the loss of functional connectivity in highly altered landscapes of central-southern Chile, focusing on puma (Puma concolor) populations. This species, widely distributed across the Americas, relies on large connected habitat areas to maintain genetic flow and population viability. The main objective was to analyze the potential connectivity between the Coast Mountain Range and the Andes Mountains, proposing ecological corridors that account for the species' habitat and mobility requirements, as well as existing barriers. Connectivity modeling methods based on circuit theory and landscape resistance analysis were applied, using variables such as land cover, slope, and the known distribution of pumas. The results identified critical areas for connectivity, highlighting sectors with high centrality as key nodes in the ecological network. Significant barriers, such as roads and urban areas, were also identified as fragmenting the habitat and limiting puma movements. The conclusions emphasize the need to implement ecological corridors to connect core areas and reduce the impact of barriers, as well as to integrate this information into land-use planning to mitigate biodiversity loss. This study provides spatially explicit information to guide conservation strategies in a context of increasing anthropogenic pressure, underscoring the importance of functional connectivity in the conservation of highly mobile species like the puma.
Description
Tesis presentada para optar al título de Ingeniero en Conservación de Recursos Naturales.
Keywords
Pumas, Habitat (Ecología), Cordilleras