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Human-carnivore conflict can lead to serious reduction and even extirpation of top predators when management policies are inadequate or are absent. This is especially true in central Argentina where a few small protected areas are interspersed within a mosaic of ranches and game reserves. We used camera-trapping surveys and spatial mark–resight models, to reanalyze, estimate, and compare puma (Puma concolor) densities among these three different land-use types. We also used an occupancy modeling framework to determine drivers of puma habitat use. We used kernel density estimation to determine if land use altered puma daily activity patterns across sites. Puma density estimates (D ± SE) in cattle ranches and one game reserve were lower (1.00 ±0.36 and 1.38 ±0.91 pumas per 100 km2, respectively) than in the protected area (4.90 ±1.51 pumas per 100 km2) but CIs were wide. Puma detection was the lowest in the game reserve. Puma habitat use increased strongly with vegetation cover and probability of detection was negatively influenced by cattle encounter rates. Pumas were mostly nocturnal with some crepuscular activity in ranches and game reserve, and cathemeral in the protected area. Our results suggest that pumas likely seek refuge in protected areas and relax timing of activity there, information relevant to management plans designed to prevent puma decline or extirpation in central Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has altered precipitation and temperature patterns in the tropical Andes. As a result, tropical glaciers have retreated significantly over the past 50 years and have even disappeared in some areas. Andean peatlands, one of the most important Andean carbon reservoirs, also seem to be affected by these climate changes, since glaciers have been recognized as one of their vital water sources. Here, we point out the important role of Andean peatlands on carbon accumulation rates (CAR), one of the highest in the world, and the impact of climate on carbon storage over the last 65 years, using four peat cores. The peat cores were radiocarbon-dated and ages were post-bomb calibrated and chronological models indicated basal ages (30 cm depth) ranging from 1957 to 1972 CE, where accumulation rates reached up 1.7 cm yr-1. For both peatlands, carbon accumulation rates are high (mean of 470 and 220 g C m-2 yr- 1 at APA 1 and APA 2 sites, respectively) and can reach up to 1010 g C m-2 yr-1. Distichia muscoides is the dominant species in the Peruvian Central Andes peatlands and the high CAR, among other factors, is a characteristic of this species. Our results point out that a marked decrease of CAR after the early 1980s at both peatlands is likely related to an increase in annual temperature, which is responsible for the retreat of glaciers. We use a new high- resolution proxy (Skrzypek et al., 2011) based on the δ13C of Distichia along the cores to evaluate the temperature variability at the site. We observed a general trend of increase in the reconstructed temperature from both studied peatlands from 1.9 to 2 ºC for the period 1970-2015 CE. Comparison with air temperature data from the NCEP-NCAR reanalysis for the higher resolution cores shows a good relationship and an increase of 2.15 °C for the same period. Temperature increase may directly affect CAR by an increase in organic matter degradation rates. The decrease in CAR during the period of study may also be due to a decrease in melt water inflow generated by the retreat of glaciers that have almost disappeared today in the catchments as a consequence of regional warming. Our findings emphasize that marked changes in carbon accumulation rates demonstrate the high ecological sensitivity of tropical high-Andean peatlands, endangering their outstanding role in the regional (and even global) C cycle as large C sinks that contribute to the mitigation of global climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed surveys from 383 ranchers to determine their perceptions of puma damage in Chubut province (Central Patagonia). Thirty-two percent of respondents had a negative perception, while 65% were neutral. Negative perceptions increased: (a) with the breeding of mixed livestock, (b) with the presence of neighboring inactive, and (c) in small and medium ranches. Our results showed that ranchers use both lethal control and non-lethal methods (regular patrol of the ranch areas, night and seasonal enclosures, guardian dogs) to reduce livestock predation. Lethal control has great acceptance among ranchers, but there is a general lack of evidence about its effectiveness. Considering that our results indicated that the puma may not be the major problem in livestock areas, it is necessary to review the current management policy. We suggest focusing efforts to reduce livestock depredation only on affected ranches, prioritizing the development of non-lethal methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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