Effect of domestic camelid livestock on trampling risk of artificial nests in high Andean wetlands of Arequipa, Peru

Sillocca M.; López E.L.; Simonetti J.A.; Sillocca-Yahuira M. · Ornitologia Neotropical (2025) · DOI: 10.58843/ornneo.v36i1.1289

Resumen

Grazing by livestock can have negative effects on bird biodiversity by reducing habitat quality, trampling nests, and facilitating the presence of domestic predators. For the high Andean wetlands of Arequipa, an optimal load is considered to be 1.35 alpacas/ha and 0. llamas/ha, but it is unknown what effect this load could have on birds that nest in wetlands. In this study we evaluated the effect of livestock load of llamas and alpacas on the nesting of birds in nine high Andean wetlands in Arequipa, Peru. In December 2021, we implemented an experiment with 900 artificial nests (100 nests per site), exposed for 14 days in wetlands subject to different livestock loads. We determined that livestock load had a significant effect on artificial nests, increasing nest trampling. In addition, 32.8% of nests were removed by human activity. Given that livestock loads constitute a threat to birds that nest in wetlands, we recommend regulating livestock loads, as well as using rotational grazing systems, and excluding livestock during avian reproductive seasons. Copyright

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa