Does the presence of livestock alter the trophic behaviour of sympatric populations of wild camelids Vicugna vicugna Molina 1782 and Lama guanicoe Müller 1976 (Artiodactyla: Camelidae)?: Evidence from Central Andes

Abstract

ABSTRACT We described and compared the diets of two sympatric Andean camelids, during the humid season (austral summer) in a site of Northern Chile, in presence of domestic livestock. Results indicate that: 1) grasses and shrubs are the main component in the diet of both camelids, 2) shrubs were more consumed by V. vicugna ; 3) V. vicugna and L. guanicoe used the same trophic resources but in different proportions; 4) in mountain environments, wetlands exploitation by wild camelids seems restricted by domestic cattle, which would cause the displacement of Vicunas and Guanacos to suboptimal habitat for feeding. K EYWORDS : Guanaco, Vicuna, livestock, diet, herbivory. RESUMEN Describimos y comparamos la dieta de dos poblaciones simpatricas de camelidos silvestres, durante la estacion humeda (verano) en un sector del norte de Chile en presencia de ganado domesticado. Nuestros resultados indican que: 1) gramineas y arbustos son el principal componente de la dieta de ambos camelidos; 2) arbustos fueron consumidos principalmente por