POPULATION ECOLOGY OF THE VICUÑA (Vicugna vicugna) AT THE SALINAS Y AGUADA BLANCA NATIONAL RESERVE, AREQUIPA, PERU: BASELINE DATA FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT By JENNIFER E. DAVIES A THESIS PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2003 Copyright 2003 by Jennifer E. Davies For Murphy ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank Dr. Lauren Chapman for all the knowledge and guidance she brought in the completion of this project. Her dedication to science, kindness, and integrity are truly inspiring. She definitely sets the standard in achievement both personally and professionally. I would also like to thank Dr. Charles Wood for all his help and support during my time in Florida, and for agreeing to serve on my committee. I would also like to thank Dr. Emilio Bruna for his support, encouragement, and knowledge, and for graciously agreeing to serve on my committee. In addition, I would like to thank all those at CONATURA and Dr. Catherine Sahley for providing assistance at the field site in Arequipa, use of their database, and for various crucial aspects of the project. The field research may not have been possible without the invaluable friendship and support of Vajk Lucas and Mariela Caceras (and Maya) in Arequipa. They shared their home to an unexpectedly long-term visitor, who would come home covered in dust and smelling of alpacas. I am honored to have been a part of their lives. Comments and knowledge offered by Colin Chapman and Ron Sarno were also invaluable and added greatly to the thesis. I also greatly appreciate the support offered by those in the Tropical Conservation and Development program throughout my years of study, namely Dr. Marianne Schmink and Hannah Covert. Technical support (and overall support) was provided by Joe Savastano. Financial support for this research was provided by the Department of Latin American Studies, the Tropical Conservation and Development program at the University of Florida, the Wildlife Conservation iv Society, and CONATURA. Finally, I would like to thank my family and friends for their encouragement and patience during the completion of this project. v TABLE OF CONTENTS page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iv LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... ix ABSTRACT.........................................................................................................................x CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................1 General Ecology ...........................................................................................................1 Objectives .....................................................................................................................4 2 STUDY SITE DESCRIPTION.....................................................................................6 3 METHODS.................................................................................................................10 Study Design...............................................................................................................10 Data Analyses .............................................................................................................12 Group Characteristics ..........................................................................................12 Distribution and Density......................................................................................12 Density .........................................................................................................12 Density and distribution relative to the laguna.............................................13 Group size distribution relative to the laguna ..............................................13 Responses to Changes in Water Distribution ......................................................14 Spatial Patterns and Inter-Group Movement.......................................................15 4 RESULTS...................................................................................................................16 General Ecology .........................................................................................................16 Group Size and Population Composition ............................................................16 Group Size and Composition by Group Type .....................................................17 Spatial Relationships and Intergroup Movement .......................................................18 Density and Distribution......................................................................................18 Density and distribution relative to the laguna.............................................18 Group size distribution relative to the laguna ..............................................19 vi Group composition relative to distance from laguna ...................................22 Responses to Changes in Water Distribution ......................................................24 Average distance from laguna as a function of changes in water distribution ..............................................................................................24 Density and distribution as a function of changes in water distribution ......29 Spatial Patterns and Inter-Group Movement.......................................................29 5 DISCUSSION.............................................................................................................37 General Ecology .........................................................................................................37 Group Size and Type Composition .....................................................................37 Mating Strategies of the Vicuña..........................................................................38 Group Composition Within Family Groups........................................................39 Group Size and Density.......................................................................................40 Spatial Relationships and Intergroup Movement .......................................................44 Distribution Patterns............................................................................................44 Seasonal Changes in Distribution and Density ...................................................46 Spatial Patterns and Inter-Group Movement.......................................................49 Mean age of identified males found at laguna in 2002 ................................50 Site fidelity and dispersal .............................................................................51 Distance moved from family groups............................................................52 Description of shifts in group composition..................................................52 6 IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION ...............................................................54 7 CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................59 LIST OF REFERENCES...................................................................................................61 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH .............................................................................................65 vii LIST OF TABLES Table page 4-1.Composition of identified vicuña (Vicugna vicugna)..................................................33 4-2.Identified male groups of vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) ..................................................33 4-3.Life history characteristics of tagged male vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) .......................36 4-4.Examples of movement within female vicuña among family groups. ........................36 5-1.Published denisty estimates of vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) ..........................................43 viii LIST OF FIGURES Figure page 2-1.Transect design for vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) survey. .................................................8 4-1.Percentage of group types in the vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) population .....................17 4-2.Vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) group density . ..................................................................20 4-3.Distribution of vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) group types around the laguna..................21 4-4.Size of vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) groups in relation to the laguna.............................23 4-5.The number of females in family groups of vicuña (Vicugna vicugna)......................25 4-6.The number of young vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) in relation to distance.....................26 4-7.The number of males in vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) groups.........................................27 4-8.Average distance of vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) groups...............................................28 4-9.Distribution of vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) groups .......................................................30 4-10.Density (groups per sq km) of vicuña (Vicugna vicugna).........................................31 4-11.Percentage of individual vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) group types..............................32 4-12.Spatial patterns of followed vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) groups.................................35