A new population of Darwin's fox (Lycalopex fulvipes) in the Valdivian Coastal Range

Indexación: Web of Science; Scielo.Darwin's fox (Lycalopex fulvipes Martin, 1837) is an endemic of the temperate forests of the Coastal Range of southern Chile, that was reported by Charles Darwin in 1834 in southern Chiloé Island (42° S, 74° W; Martin 1837). Initially known exclusively from that island, it was considered both an insular subspecies of the chilla fox (Lycalopex griseus Gray, 1837) (Housse 1953; Clutton-Brock et al. 1976) and a valid species (Martin 1837; Gay 1947; Osgood 1943). In 1990, a mainland population was reported at Nahuelbuta National Park (ca. 450 km north of Chiloé Island, 37° 47′ S, 72° 59′ W; Figure 1a) in sympatry with the chilla and culpeo foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus Molina, 1782) (Jaksic et al. 1990; Medel et al. 1990; Jiménez et al. 1991). This supported its status as a valid species, later confirmed through genetic studies (Yahnke et al. 1996).http://ref.scielo.org/z7mmt

Private development-based forest conservation in Patagonia: comparing mental models and revealing cultural truths

Private protected area (PPA) conservation agents (CA) engaging in development-based conservation in southern Chile have generated conflict with locals. Poor fit of dominant development-based conservation ideology in rural areas is commonly to blame. We developed and administered a cultural consensus survey near the Valdivian Coastal Reserve (RCV) and Huilo Huilo Reserve (HH) to examine fit of CA cultural truths with local residents. Cultural consensus analysis (CCA) of 23 propositions reflecting CA cultural truths confirmed: (1) a single CA culture exists, and (2) RCV communities were more aligned with this culture than HH communities. Inadequate communication, inequitable decision making, divergent opinions about livelihood impacts and trajectories, and PPA purpose may explain differences between CAs and communities. Meanwhile, variability in response between and within communities may reflect differing environmental histories. Private protected area administrations might use CCA to confront cultural differences and thereby improve their community interactions

Domestic Dogs in Rural Communities around Protected Areas: Conservation Problem or Conflict Solution?

<div><p>Although domestic dogs play many important roles in rural households, they can also be an important threat to the conservation of wild vertebrates due to predation, competition and transmission of infectious diseases. An increasing number of studies have addressed the impact of dogs on wildlife but have tended to ignore the motivations and attitudes of the humans who keep these dogs and how the function of dogs might influence dog-wildlife interactions. To determine whether the function of domestic dogs in rural communities influences their interactions with wildlife, we conducted surveys in rural areas surrounding protected lands in the Valdivian Temperate Forests of Chile. Sixty percent of farm animal owners reported the use of dogs as one of the primary means of protecting livestock from predators. The probability of dog–wild carnivore interactions was significantly associated with the raising of poultry. In contrast, dog–wild prey interactions were not associated with livestock presence but had a significant association with poor quality diet as observed in previous studies. Dog owners reported that they actively encouraged the dogs to chase off predators, accounting for 25–75% of the dog–wild carnivore interactions observed, depending on the predator species. Humans controlled the dog population by killing pups and unwanted individuals resulting in few additions to the dog population through breeding; the importation of predominantly male dogs from urban areas resulted in a sex ratios highly dominated by males. These results indicate that dog interactions with wildlife are related to the role of the dog in the household and are directly influenced by their owners. To avoid conflict with local communities in conservation areas, it is important to develop strategies for managing dogs that balance conservation needs with the roles that dogs play in these rural households.</p></div

Measures of farm animal protection in rural areas in southern Chile.

<p>Measures of farm animal protection against carnivore predators reported by rural interviewees around three protected areas in southern Chile.</p

Dog-wildlife interactions reported by dog owners.

<p>Number of households with dogs (n = 123) indicating dog-wildlife interactions observed during the previous year.</p

Model-averaged odds ratios of rural dogs interacting with carnivore and prey species.

<p>Model-averaged parameter estimates shown as odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for explaining rural dog interactions with carnivore and prey species. Odds Ratios <1 indicate a negative association with occurrence while Odds Ratios >1 indicate a positive association with occurrence.</p

Demography and management of rural dogs.

<p>^a 36% of the pups that died were killed by the dog owner;</p><p>^b 92.6% males and 7.4% females;</p><p>^c 7.5% killed by the dog owner.</p><p>Demography and management of domestic dogs in rural areas around three protected areas in Southern Chile.</p

Best models to estimate the probability of owned dog interactions with carnivores and prey species.

<p>Summary of model selection to estimate the probability of owned dog interactions with carnivores and prey species. Models are ranked by AICc values. Columns include the number of variables (K), Akaike’s Information Criterion (AICc), distance from the lowest AICc (Δ AICc), and Akaike’s model weight (ωi). Models showed include only those with a ΔAICc ≤2. See table1 in Supplementary material for all competing models.</p

Farm animal ownership.

<p>Farm animal ownership in rural households around three protected areas in southern Chile.</p