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The use of biosphere reserves by a wide-ranging avian scavenger indicates its significant potential for conservation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 September 2019

Jorgelina M Guido*
Affiliation:
Grupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue – CONICET), Pasaje Gutiérrez 1125, R8400FRF, San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina The Peregrine Fund, 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, ID 83709, USA
Pablo AE Alarcón
Affiliation:
Grupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue – CONICET), Pasaje Gutiérrez 1125, R8400FRF, San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina
José A Donázar
Affiliation:
Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana-CSIC, C/Américo Vespucio, 26, 41092 Seville, Spain
Fernando Hiraldo
Affiliation:
Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana-CSIC, C/Américo Vespucio, 26, 41092 Seville, Spain
Sergio A Lambertucci
Affiliation:
Grupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA (Universidad Nacional del Comahue – CONICET), Pasaje Gutiérrez 1125, R8400FRF, San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina
*
Author for correspondence: Jorgelina M Guido, Email: jorgelinaguido@comahue-conicet.gob.ar

Summary

The framing of environmental conservation has been changing, mainly towards a reconciliation between human needs and nature conservation. A major challenge of biosphere reserves (BRs) is the integration of biodiversity conservation and the sustainable development of local communities. Although these areas are large, they are often not large enough to contain the movements of wide-ranging species. We studied immature Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) movements to evaluate their habitat use in relation to protected areas (PAs). We particularly aimed to determine whether BRs significantly increase the protection of this wide-ranging species. We analysed the movement overlap of 26 GPS-tagged birds with the PAs of Patagonia, and we evaluated preferences for particular landscape categories with a use–availability design. Condors were mainly located in unprotected areas (56.4%), whereas 26.4% of locations were within International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) PAs and 17.2% of locations were in BRs (not including IUCN PAs). When compared to availability, birds preferred BRs over other areas, highlighting the importance of BRs in protecting species that forage in humanized areas. However, the lack of controls and management policies expose condors to several threats, such as poisoning and persecution, in both private lands and BRs. Implementing strict management practices for BRs will help to conserve wide-ranging scavengers that feed in humanized areas.

Type
Research Paper
Copyright
© Foundation for Environmental Conservation 2019 

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