An ecosystem approach to huemul conservation in Chilean Patagonia

Dedicated Scientists involved in the Project: Heiko U. Wittmer, Paulo Corti, Jaime E. Jiménez & Cristián Saucedo

The Patagonia puma project applies an ecosystem approach that considers the complex predator-prey interactions in the montane and forested habitats of Chilean Patagonia. The huemul is a flagship species of these montane and forested habitats. Because of the declining population trends and increasing fragmentation, the huemul has been designated as “critically endangered” by the World Conservation Union. The development of recovery strategies, however, has been greatly limited by the lack of reliable data explaining the observed population declines. To overcome this limitation, this project has initiated research on the dynamics of huemul in 2 different areas in Chilean Patagonia.

The overall goal is to understand the consequences of large-scale prey reductions and ultimately, the complete removal of an abundant prey species (domestic sheep) on the endangered prey species, the huemel (a deer), in a multi-prey and multi-predator system. The puma is one apex predator in this complex ecosystem. This study will utilize advanced GPS technology to understand the foraging behavior and preferred prey of the puma, as well as the culpeo fox. This ecosystem approach is being conducted in two study areas in Chilean Patagonia that differ in land use practices that have resulted in distinct prey communities in each area: the Lago Cochrane National Reserve is a state protected area where domestic sheep are absent, whereas the Chacabuco Valley has traditionally been used for grazing.

This ecosystem approach to conservation research will provide the necessary knowledge to restore ecosystem function, in addition to exploring the details of the complicated symbiotic relationships within the ecosystems between predators and their prey. This study is a revolutionary step being taken to preserve the entire ecosystem: the landscape, predators, and prey. As a result, the majestic and powerful puma will be preserved.