Effects of roads on the behaviour of the largest South American artiodactyl (Lama guanicoe) in an Argentine reserve

Previous work has suggested that assessing the trace element status of South American camelids (llamas) using cattle or sheep plasma values as reference norms could lead to incorrect diagnoses of sufficiency /deficiency (Illingworth et al.,1997). However there are no previous accounts of a direct comparison of the trace mineral status between a species of camelid and a conventional ruminant. This study directly compares the blood copper and cobalt status of guanacos and sheep grazing the same typical upland Agrostis / Festuca spp. dominated pasture.Blood samples were obtained in May 1996 from the tail vessels of 10 mature, captive bred guanaco castrates and 9 mature barren ewes (Merino x Welsh Mountain) which had grazed the same upland pasture for 6 weeks with ad libitum access to trace mineral blocks (Wright Block - Standard) which both species were observed to consume.

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Molecular identification of Nematodirus spathiger (Nematoda: Molineidae) in Lama guanicoe from Patagonia, Argentina

Helminthologia ◽

10.2478/s11687-014-0213-z ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 51 (2) ◽

pp. 79-82 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

R. Petrigh ◽

M. Fugassa

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

Native Species ◽

National Park ◽

Ecological Niche ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Control Measures ◽

South American ◽

Ecological Risks ◽

Lama Guanicoe ◽

South American Camelids

AbstractThe guanaco (Lama guanicoe) is the major inhabitant and the largest wild artiodactyl in Patagonia. The introduction of invasive species into its ecological niche poses ecological risks, since invasive species may introduce harmful parasites to this native species. In this work, filariform larvae of the Nematodirus genus were found in feces of guanacos from the Perito Moreno National Park in Argentina. All species were characterized according to morphological features and molecular analyses using ribosomal DNA (rDNA). For the molecular analysis, rDNA fragments were amplified by PCR and then sequenced. The results of the BLASTN comparison threw a 99 % of identity with Nematodirus spathiger and 97 % with N. helvetianus, suggesting that N. spathiger is the infecting parasite. Nematodirus spathiger together with N. filicollis and N. battus causes diarrhea and deaths in sheep and, in some cases, in South American camelids. The availability of more accurate diagnostic methods such as PCR could improve the control measures for gastrointestinal helminthiasis.

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Were domestic camelids present on the prehispanic South American agricultural frontier? An ancient DNA study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0240474 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (11) ◽

pp. e0240474

Author(s):

Cinthia Carolina Abbona ◽

Gustavo Neme Adolfo ◽

Jeff Johnson ◽

Tracy Kim ◽

Adolfo Fabian Gil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ancient Dna ◽

Late Holocene ◽

High Elevation ◽

Archaeological Sites ◽

South American ◽

Lama Guanicoe ◽

Southern Boundary ◽

Macrobotanical Remains ◽

Species Overlap ◽

Lama Glama

The southern boundary of prehispanic farming in South America occurs in central Mendoza Province, Argentina at approximately 34 degrees south latitude. Archaeological evidence of farming includes the recovery of macrobotanical remains of cultigens and isotopic chemistry of human bone. Since the 1990s, archaeologists have also hypothesized that the llama (Lama glama), a domesticated South American camelid, was also herded near the southern boundary of prehispanic farming. The remains of a wild congeneric camelid, the guanaco (Lama guanicoe), however, are common in archaeological sites throughout Mendoza Province. It is difficult to distinguish bones of the domestic llama from wild guanaco in terms of osteological morphology, and therefore, claims that llama were in geographic areas where guanaco were also present based on osteometric analysis alone remain equivocal. A recent study, for example, claimed that twenty-five percent of the camelid remains from the high elevation Andes site of Laguna del Diamante S4 were identified based on osteometric evidence as domestic llama, but guanaco are also a likely candidate since the two species overlap in size. We test the hypothesis that domesticated camelids occurred in prehispanic, southern Mendoza through analysis of ancient DNA. We generated whole mitochondrial genome datasets from 41 samples from southern Mendoza late Holocene archaeological sites, located between 450 and 3400 meters above sea level (masl). All camelid samples from those sites were identified as guanaco; thus, we have no evidence to support the hypothesis that the domestic llama occurred in prehispanic southern Mendoza.

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Guanaco’s diet and forage preferences in Nothofagus forest environments of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Forest Systems ◽

10.5424/fs/2017261-09164 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. e004 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Claudia-Pamela Quinteros ◽

José-Omar Bava ◽

Miriam-Edith Gobbi ◽

Guillermo-Emilio Defossé

Keyword(s):

Tierra Del Fuego ◽

Forest Understory ◽

Grass Species ◽

South American ◽

Nothofagus Pumilio ◽

Lama Guanicoe ◽

Nothofagus Forests ◽

Fresh Feces ◽

Free Ranging ◽

Composite Samples

Aim of study: Guanaco (Lama guanicoe Müller), is a South American native ungulate widely distributed in Patagonia, which in the island of Tierra del Fuego (TF), extends its habitat into Nothofagus spp. forests. Within these forests, guanacos consume lenga (Nothofagus pumilio) leaves and twigs, and other understory species. The aim of this work was to determine: 1) the spring and summer diet of free ranging guanacos, and 2) which plants, grown in the forest understory, guanacos do prefer, or avoid, in these seasons of great forage abundance.Area of study: Tierra del Fuego (Argentina), on three representative areas which combined Nothofagus forests and adjacent meadows (vegas).Material and Methods: Guanacos’ diet was determined by comparing epidermal and non-epidermal plant fragments with micro-histological analyses of feces. The analysis was made from composite samples of fresh feces, collected at the seasons of maximum forage productivity (spring and summer).Main results: During spring, 48% of guanacos’ diet was composed of lenga leaves, 30% of grass-like species, 15% of grasses, and less than 7% of herbs, shrubs, and lichens. In summer, 40% of the diet was composed of grasses, 30% of lenga leaves, 25% of grass-like species and the rest corresponded to herbs, shrubs, and lichens. Within the forest understory, guanaco selected lenga leaves and twigs, grass species were consumed according to their availability (or sometimes rejected), while other herbs were not consumed at all.Research highlights: Guanacos’ consumption preference for lenga, even considering the high availability of other forages, could adversely affect forest regeneration.

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Sarcocystis masoni, n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae), and redescription of Sarcocystis aucheniae from llama (Lama glama), guanaco (Lama guanicoe) and alpaca (Vicugna pacos)

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s003118201600007x ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 143 (5) ◽

pp. 617-626 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

GASTÓN MORÉ ◽

CRISTIAN REGENSBURGER ◽

M. LAURA GOS ◽

LAIS PARDINI ◽

SHIV K. VERMA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

18S Rrna ◽

18S Rrna Gene ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

South American ◽

Lama Guanicoe ◽

South American Camelids ◽

Vicugna Pacos ◽

Considerable Confusion ◽

Lama Glama ◽

Sarcocyst Wall

SUMMARYThere is considerable confusion concerning the species of Sarcocystis in South American camelids (SAC). Several species names have been used; however, proper descriptions are lacking. In the present paper, we redescribe the macroscopic sarcocyst forming Sarcocystis aucheniae and describe and propose a new name, Sarcocystis masoni for the microscopic sarcocyst forming species. Muscles samples were obtained from llamas (Lama glama) and guanacos (Lama guanicoe) from Argentina and from alpacas (Vicugna pacos) and llamas from Peru. Individual sarcocysts were processed by optical and electron microscopy, and molecular studies. Microscopic sarcocysts of S. masoni were up to 800 µm long and 35–95 µm wide, the sarcocyst wall was 2·5–3·5 µm thick, and had conical to cylindrical villar protrusions (vp) with several microtubules. Each vp had 11 or more rows of knob-like projections. Seven 18S rRNA gene sequences obtained from sarcocysts revealed 95–96% identity with other Sarcocystis spp. sequences reported in the GenBank. Sarcocysts of S. aucheniae were macroscopic, up to 1·2 cm long and surrounded by a dense and laminar 50 µm thick secondary cyst wall. The sarcocyst wall was up to 10 µm thick, and had branched vp, appearing like cauliflower. Comparison of the 11 sequences obtained from individual macroscopic cysts evidenced a 98–99% of sequence homology with other S. aucheniae sequences. In conclusion, 2 morphologically and molecularly different Sarcocystis species, S. masoni (microscopic cysts) and S. aucheniae (macroscopic cysts), were identified affecting different SAC from Argentina and Peru.

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How Roads Affect the Spatial Use of the Guanaco in a South American Protected Area: Human Connectivity vs Animal Welfare

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d11070110 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 110 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Flavio M. Cappa ◽

Carlos E. Borghi ◽

Stella M. Giannoni

Keyword(s):

Camera Traps ◽

South American ◽

Arid Environments ◽

Lama Guanicoe ◽

Unpaved Road ◽

Animal Populations ◽

Spatial Use ◽

Paved Road ◽

Management And Conservation ◽

Density Population

Roads can affect animals as well as their habits at different levels. Avoidance behavior is a common response of animals to this type of perturbation, preventing access to areas rich in resources. The effects of roads on ungulates have not been studied in South America extensively, especially in arid environments. We have studied the space use by ungulates in relation to roads, using a dung heap count and camera traps. The aim was to evaluate whether paved road and unpaved road may have an effect on the spatial use of a low density population of guanacos (Lama guanicoe) in Ischigualasto Provincial Park, Argentina. We observed an increase in dung heap abundance in unpaved road as respect to paved road, this difference was larger for both. Besides, we recorded less individuals in paved road zones than in unpaved road zones. This showed that roads, especially paved roads, negatively affect the space used by guanacos. Our results are relevant to the management and conservation of animal populations in protected areas since spatial segregation due to the presence of roads may lead to the isolation of individuals. It is important to pay attention and further assess the effects that roads can have in the native fauna.

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Plasma copper and cobalt metabolism of guanacos (Lama guanicoe) and sheep grazing the same upland pasture

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0308229600034310 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 1998 ◽

pp. 218-218 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

D.V. Illingworth ◽

D.W. Jackson ◽

M.D. Fraser ◽

S.B. Telfer

Keyword(s):

South American ◽

Sheep Grazing ◽

Trace Mineral ◽

Lama Guanicoe ◽

Blood Samples ◽

South American Camelids ◽

Trace Element Status ◽

Plasma Copper ◽

Ad Libitum ◽

Upland Pasture

Previous work has suggested that assessing the trace element status of South American camelids (llamas) using cattle or sheep plasma values as reference norms could lead to incorrect diagnoses of sufficiency /deficiency (Illingworth et al.,1997). However there are no previous accounts of a direct comparison of the trace mineral status between a species of camelid and a conventional ruminant. This study directly compares the blood copper and cobalt status of guanacos and sheep grazing the same typical upland Agrostis / Festuca spp. dominated pasture.Blood samples were obtained in May 1996 from the tail vessels of 10 mature, captive bred guanaco castrates and 9 mature barren ewes (Merino x Welsh Mountain) which had grazed the same upland pasture for 6 weeks with ad libitum access to trace mineral blocks (Wright Block - Standard) which both species were observed to consume.

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Estimación de la edad de guanaco (Lama guanicoe) a partir de los dientes incisivos: un aporte metodológico para la construcción de perfiles de mortalidad / AGE ESTIMATION OF GUANACO (LAMA GUANICOE) BASED ON INCISOR TEETH: A METHODOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTION ...

Revista del Museo de Antropología ◽

10.31048/1852.4826.v10.n1.14840 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 19

Author(s):

Cristian A. Kaufmann ◽

María Clara Alvarez ◽

S. Iván Pérez

Keyword(s):

Age Estimation ◽

South American ◽

Crown Height ◽

Age Classes ◽

Hunter Gatherers ◽

Lama Guanicoe ◽

The Past ◽

Palabras Clave ◽

Qualitative Variables ◽

The Relationship

El guanaco fue el principal recurso para los cazadores-recolectores que habitaron las regiones pampeana y patagónica de Argentina. Este ungulado jugó un rol fundamental en las esferas económica, social e ideológica de estas sociedades durante el Holoceno. En este sentido, comprender la relación entre las poblaciones de humanos y guanacos en el pasado es crucial para la zooarquelogía sudamericana. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar una metodología que permite estimar la edad relativa de los camélidos a partir del análisis de los dientes incisivos. La muestra se compone de incisivos de 91 guanacos modernos, asignados a diferentes clases de edad. Este análisis incluyó variables cualitativas, tales como el estado de la raíz y de la dentina, así como cuantitativas, como la altura de la corona. Los resultados indican que la combinación de estas variables es un indicador útil para la estimación de la edad en incisivos aislados de guanaco, los cuales son frecuentemente hallados en el registro faunístico. Palabras clave: Guanaco; Dientes incisivos; Estimación de la edad; Perfil de mortalidad. AbstractThe guanaco was the main resource for hunter-gatherers that inhabited the Pampean and Patagonian regions of Argentina. This ungulate played a fundamental role in the economic, social, and ideological spheres of these societies during the Holocene. In this sense, understanding the relationship between human and guanaco populations in the past is crucial to South American zooarchaeology. The aim of this paper is to present a methodology that allows estimating relative ages of guanaco throughout the analysis of the incisor teeth. The sample is composed of incisors from 91 modern guanacos assigned to different age-classes. This analysis included qualitative variables, such as the root and dentine state, and quantitative ones, such as the crown height. The results show that the combination of these variables is a useful indicator for estimating the age of guanacos in isolated incisors, which are usually found in the faunal record. Keywords: Guanaco; Incisor teeth; Age estimation; Mortality profile.

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