Title
Modeling the abundance and spatial distribution of the guanaco (Lama guanicoe) in Patagonia: A review and future perspectives
Author(s)
Panebianco, Antonella; Schroeder, Natalia M.; Antún, Milagros; Flores, Celina; Pedrana, Julieta; Peña Lodis, Fiama; Carmanchahi, Pablo
Published
2023
Abstract
Understanding the factors that influence the abundance and spatial distribution of wild species has been of primary interest to researchers worldwide. This information has been generally considered to assess the status of populations and their habitat requirements and to make management recommendations related to their conservation and use. In South America, a species of particular interest is the guanaco (Lama guanicoe), given its adaptations and flexibility to occupy a wide variety of environments, its ecological role in the ecosystem, and its economic value in some regions. The guanaco has suffered a severe decline in numbers and a reduction in its geographic range since the 1800s due to legal and illegal hunting and the introduction of livestock (especially sheep). Currently, it occupies around 26% of its original range, and 81–86% of its global population remains in Argentina, with abundant numbers in Austral Patagonia. In this chapter, we review the different modeling tools that have been used to assess the status of guanaco populations throughout Patagonia, highlighting their advances, advantages, and limitations. We use study cases in different environmental conditions (e.g., spatial and temporal scales) to evaluate how local and regional contexts have impacted the abundance and spatial distribution of guanaco populations and to identify possible threats throughout their distributional range. Finally, we present some advances in innovative technologies that will improve detection during population surveys, which, in turn, will allow modeling with more accurate estimations.
Keywords
zoology; ecology; biostatistics; community and population ecology

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PUB36181