Carnívoros en la zona central de Chile : enfrentando una interfaz peri-urbana creciente
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2023
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es
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Universidad Andrés Bello
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Licencia CC
Licencia CC
Resumen
El aumento de la población humana a nivel global modifica continua y extensamente el hábitat
disponible para la fauna silvestre nativa, a través del cambio en el uso de suelos y la introducción
de especies exóticas invasoras. Los carnívoros terrestres destacan por su sensibilidad a estas
perturbaciones, sufriendo modificaciones en sus patrones de riqueza, distribución y
comportamiento. Particularmente, la zona central de Chile emplaza un hábitat altamente perturbado
para ocho carnívoros nativos bajo distinto grado de amenaza. Por lo tanto, el objetivo general de
esta investigación fue identificar los determinantes de la riqueza de especies de carnívoros
terrestres nativos en la zona central de Chile, en función de un gradiente de perturbación antrópica,
así como los patrones de ocupación de un mesocarnívoro generalista, y describir su segregación de
nicho espacio-temporal con un carnívoro doméstico. El área de estudio abarcó la interfaz periurbana de las regiones Metropolitana y de Valparaíso, donde se instalaron cámaras trampa de
manera aleatoria estratificada, durante una sola estación. Con un esfuerzo de muestreo de 1962
trampas-noche, se registró a las ocho especies de carnívoros nativos presentes en la zona.
destacando el amenazado gato andino (Leopardus jacobita). Los ensambles fueron heterogéneos
pero dominados por una especie común, el zorro culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus), acompañado de
especies raras. Ninguno de los modelos resultó explicativo para la riqueza, sugiriendo que existen
limitantes metodológicas que impidieron evaluar respuestas especie-específicas, un potencial
escenario de adaptación o incluso de liberación de mesopredadores. Por otra parte, al abordar los
patrones de ocupación del zorro culpeo, se detectó una asociación negativa con la superficie
agrícola, indicando que la especie podría utilizar estos paisajes perturbados cuando las áreas
naturales son escasas, asumiendo riesgos asociados al humano y compitiendo de manera intra e
interespecífica por el subsidio de recursos. Finalmente, al abordar el nicho espacio-temporal del
zorro culpeo y el perro doméstico, se observó segregación de nicho temporal más que espacial,
facilitada por la actividad nocturna del zorro y diurna del perro. La co-ocurrencia de estas especies
posibilitó interacciones indirectas, que se concentraron en cercanía a ciudades. Los perros se
asociaron a la presencia humana, pero gran parte deambuló sin ninguna medida de restricción,
utilizando el paisaje sin patrones fijos. Lo anterior plantea escenarios de riesgo para el zorro culpeo,
asociados a potencial competencia por interferencia o aparente, mediada por la transmisión de
patógenos. Los resultados de esta investigación refuerzan la necesidad de profundizar en el estudio de carnívoros con enfoques transdisciplinarios para generar estrategias de conservación
adaptativas. Asimismo, los resultados apuntan a regular y planificar los cambios en el uso de suelo,
con la finalidad de preservar la funcionalidad del paisaje. Finalmente, los resultados refuerzan la
necesidad de explorar la plasticidad de los carnívoros nativos ante competidores exóticos, y de
fortalecer la legislación sobre tenencia responsable de mascotas. De tal forma, esta investigación
contribuye con el diseño de un marco legislativo que integra factores ambientales y sociales,
apuntando a preservar la biodiversidad, la conectividad del paisaje y los intereses humanos en las
nuevas matrices ecológicas metropolitanas.
The global increase in human population continually and extensively modifies habitats available for native wildlife, through changes in land use and the introduction of invasive exotic species. Terrestrial carnivores stand out for their sensitivity to these disturbances, undergoing modifications in their patterns of species richness, distribution and behavior. Particularly, the central zone of Chile provides a highly disturbed habitat for eight native carnivores under different degrees of threat. Therefore, the general objective of this research was to identify the determinants of the species richness of native terrestrial carnivores in the central zone of Chile, based on a gradient of anthropogenic disturbance, as well as the occupancy patterns of a generalist mesocarnivore, and describe its spatio-temporal niche segregation with a domestic carnivore. The study area covered the peri-urban interface of the Metropolitan and Valparaíso regions, where camera traps were installed in a stratified random manner, during a single season. With a sampling effort of 1962 traps-night, the eight species of native carnivores present in the area were recorded, highlighting the threatened Andean cat (Leopardus jacobita). The assemblages were heterogeneous but dominated by a common species, the Andean fox (Lycalopex culpaeus), accompanied by rare species. None of the models were explanatory for species richness, suggesting that there are methodological limitations that prevented the evaluation of species-specific responses, a potential adaptation scenario or even for the release of mesopredators. On the other hand, when addressing the occupancy patterns of the Andean fox, a negative association with agricultural land was detected, indicating that the species could use these disturbed landscapes when natural areas are scarce, assuming risks associated with humans and competing intra- and interspecifically for resources subsidy. Finally, when addressing the spatio-temporal niche of the Andean fox and the domestic dog, temporal rather than spatial niche segregation was observed, facilitated by the nocturnal activity of the fox and diurnal activity of the dog. The co-occurrence of these species enabled indirect interactions, which were concentrated near cities. Dogs were associated with human presence, but most of them roamed without any restriction measures, using the landscape without fixed patterns. The above poses risk scenarios for the Andean fox, associated with potential interference or apparent competition, mediated by pathogen transmission. The results of this research reinforce the need to deepen the study of carnivores with transdisciplinary approaches to generate adaptive conservation strategies. Likewise, the results aim to regulate and plan changes in land use, with the aim of preserving landscape functionality. Finally, the results reinforce the need to explore the plasticity of native carnivores in the face of exotic competitors, and to strengthen legislation on responsible pet ownership. Therefore, this research contributes to the design of a legislative framework that integrates environmental and social factors, aiming to preserve biodiversity, landscape connectivity and human interests in the new metropolitan ecological matrices.
The global increase in human population continually and extensively modifies habitats available for native wildlife, through changes in land use and the introduction of invasive exotic species. Terrestrial carnivores stand out for their sensitivity to these disturbances, undergoing modifications in their patterns of species richness, distribution and behavior. Particularly, the central zone of Chile provides a highly disturbed habitat for eight native carnivores under different degrees of threat. Therefore, the general objective of this research was to identify the determinants of the species richness of native terrestrial carnivores in the central zone of Chile, based on a gradient of anthropogenic disturbance, as well as the occupancy patterns of a generalist mesocarnivore, and describe its spatio-temporal niche segregation with a domestic carnivore. The study area covered the peri-urban interface of the Metropolitan and Valparaíso regions, where camera traps were installed in a stratified random manner, during a single season. With a sampling effort of 1962 traps-night, the eight species of native carnivores present in the area were recorded, highlighting the threatened Andean cat (Leopardus jacobita). The assemblages were heterogeneous but dominated by a common species, the Andean fox (Lycalopex culpaeus), accompanied by rare species. None of the models were explanatory for species richness, suggesting that there are methodological limitations that prevented the evaluation of species-specific responses, a potential adaptation scenario or even for the release of mesopredators. On the other hand, when addressing the occupancy patterns of the Andean fox, a negative association with agricultural land was detected, indicating that the species could use these disturbed landscapes when natural areas are scarce, assuming risks associated with humans and competing intra- and interspecifically for resources subsidy. Finally, when addressing the spatio-temporal niche of the Andean fox and the domestic dog, temporal rather than spatial niche segregation was observed, facilitated by the nocturnal activity of the fox and diurnal activity of the dog. The co-occurrence of these species enabled indirect interactions, which were concentrated near cities. Dogs were associated with human presence, but most of them roamed without any restriction measures, using the landscape without fixed patterns. The above poses risk scenarios for the Andean fox, associated with potential interference or apparent competition, mediated by pathogen transmission. The results of this research reinforce the need to deepen the study of carnivores with transdisciplinary approaches to generate adaptive conservation strategies. Likewise, the results aim to regulate and plan changes in land use, with the aim of preserving landscape functionality. Finally, the results reinforce the need to explore the plasticity of native carnivores in the face of exotic competitors, and to strengthen legislation on responsible pet ownership. Therefore, this research contributes to the design of a legislative framework that integrates environmental and social factors, aiming to preserve biodiversity, landscape connectivity and human interests in the new metropolitan ecological matrices.
Notas
Tesis (Doctora en Medicina de la Conservación)
Proyecto GEF Trust Fund 5135 “Protecting Biodiversity and Multiple Ecosystem Services in Biological Mountain Corridors in Chile’s Mediterranean Ecosystem”, liderado por del Ministerio del Medio Ambiente de Chile. Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID), por otorgarme la Beca de Doctorado Nacional. Y a The Wild Felid Research and Management Association (WFA), por otorgarme la beca Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship
Proyecto GEF Trust Fund 5135 “Protecting Biodiversity and Multiple Ecosystem Services in Biological Mountain Corridors in Chile’s Mediterranean Ecosystem”, liderado por del Ministerio del Medio Ambiente de Chile. Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID), por otorgarme la Beca de Doctorado Nacional. Y a The Wild Felid Research and Management Association (WFA), por otorgarme la beca Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship
Palabras clave
Carnívoros, Animales Silvestres, Investigaciones, Chile, Hombre, Influencia sobre la Naturaleza