Modelo de conectividad potencial de hippocamelus bisulcus en la reserva de la biósfera “corredor biológico Nevados de Chillán – Laguna del Laja”.
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Date
2026
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Publisher
Universidad de Concepción
Abstract
La fragmentación del hábitat de Hippocamelus bisulcus, ciervo endémico de Chile, lo ha reducido a dos poblaciones naturales: una entre las regiones de Ñuble y Biobío, en Peligro Crítico (CR), y otra desde Los Lagos hasta Magallanes, en Peligro (EN). Esta situación amenaza su supervivencia y hace urgente diseñar estrategias de conservación que garanticen su movilidad a escala de paisaje. El objetivo del presente estudio fue desarrollar un modelo de conectividad potencial para H. bisulcus en la Reserva de la Biósfera Corredor Biológico Nevados de Chillán–Laguna del Laja. Mediante el uso de sistemas de información geográfica y la extensión Linkage Mapper, integrando variables de uso del suelo, elevación, distancia a asentamientos humanos y distancia a caminos. Estas variables se integraron en una matriz de resistencia que permitió analizar los patrones de movimiento de la especie. El análisis identificó 23 nodos de hábitat que abarcaron más de un tercio del área de estudio, además de corredores y puntos críticos clave para el desplazamiento. Solo una fracción de estos nodos se encontró bajo protección oficial, lo que evidenció la necesidad de implementar estrategias conjuntas de conservación y restauración tanto en áreas protegidas como en predios privados. Las conclusiones subrayan la importancia de los modelos de conectividad como herramientas fundamentales para la conservación de especies sensibles a la fragmentación al proporcionar información científica clave para la toma de decisiones.
Habitat fragmentation of Hippocamelus bisulcus, an endemic deer species of Chile, has reduced its distribution to two natural populations: one located between the Ñuble and Biobío regions, classified as Critically Endangered (CR), and another extending from Los Lagos to Magallanes, classified as Endangered (EN). This situation poses a serious threat to the species’ long-term persistence and highlights the urgent need to develop conservation strategies that ensure its mobility at the landscape scale. The objective of this study was to develop a potential connectivity model for H. bisulcus within the Nevados de Chillán–Laguna del Laja Biological Corridor Biosphere Reserve. Geographic Information Systems and the Linkage Mapper extension were used to integrate variables related to land use, elevation, distance to human settlements, and distance to roads. These variables were combined into a resistance surface that enabled the analysis of potential movement patterns of the species. The analysis identified 23 habitat nodes covering more than one third of the study area, as well as key corridors and critical pinch points for movement. Only a fraction of these nodes were found to be under official protection, highlighting the need to implement coordinated conservation and restoration strategies across both protected areas and private lands. The conclusions emphasize the importance of connectivity models as fundamental tools for the conservation of species sensitive to habitat fragmentation, as they provide essential scientific information to support informed decision-making.
Habitat fragmentation of Hippocamelus bisulcus, an endemic deer species of Chile, has reduced its distribution to two natural populations: one located between the Ñuble and Biobío regions, classified as Critically Endangered (CR), and another extending from Los Lagos to Magallanes, classified as Endangered (EN). This situation poses a serious threat to the species’ long-term persistence and highlights the urgent need to develop conservation strategies that ensure its mobility at the landscape scale. The objective of this study was to develop a potential connectivity model for H. bisulcus within the Nevados de Chillán–Laguna del Laja Biological Corridor Biosphere Reserve. Geographic Information Systems and the Linkage Mapper extension were used to integrate variables related to land use, elevation, distance to human settlements, and distance to roads. These variables were combined into a resistance surface that enabled the analysis of potential movement patterns of the species. The analysis identified 23 habitat nodes covering more than one third of the study area, as well as key corridors and critical pinch points for movement. Only a fraction of these nodes were found to be under official protection, highlighting the need to implement coordinated conservation and restoration strategies across both protected areas and private lands. The conclusions emphasize the importance of connectivity models as fundamental tools for the conservation of species sensitive to habitat fragmentation, as they provide essential scientific information to support informed decision-making.
Description
Tesis presentada para optar al título de Ingeniero/a en Conservación de Recursos Naturales.
Keywords
Huemul Chile, Corredores (Ecología), Habitat (Ecología), Conservación de la vida silvestre