Browsing by Author "Miranda Patiño, Paola Cristina"

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    Análisis poblacional del zorro andino (lycalopex culpaeus reissii) en los páramos de la parroquia de Tanicuchí. UTC. Latacunga. 60 p.
    (Ecuador: Latacunga: Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi (UTC)., 2024-08) Miranda Patiño, Paola Cristina; Armas Cajas, Jorge Washington
    The Andean fox, also known as Lycalopex culpaeus reissii, is a mammal belonging to the Canidae family, of a solitary and territorial nature that inhabits the moorlands of the region; this species is listed as vulnerable in the Red Book of Ecuador's mammals. Its importance is highlighted because it plays a role in the ecosystem as a regulator of prey populations, helps seed dispersal and is an indicator of biome health. Therefore, the objective was to analyze the population of the Andean fox (Lycalopex culpaeus reissii) in the moorlands of Tanicuchí parish, using indirect and direct monitoring techniques. The methodology consisted in the installation of fixed band transects and the implementation of camera traps in specific areas, through which coordinates, traces of feces, tracks, feeding traces and roosts were recorded, as well as photographs of the Andean fox, which determine the presence of the species in the sector. The results obtained from the biological markers revealed 59 pieces of evidence, including feces, tracks and roosts. In addition, the variable corresponding to the study area had a significant influence on the number of samples collected, with transect number four registering the highest number of sightings, with a total of 23 samples. The results for the estimated population density, based on indirect traces collected, are 0,012 Andean foxes per km2, while the population density based on individuals observed by camera traps is 0,0119 Andean foxes per km2. The research also determined that the factors that threaten the survival of the species in the sector are the activities related to the expansion of land caused by agriculture and cattle ranching; these actions destroy an extensive part of the Andean fox habitat, limiting its ability to find food and shelter. In conclusion, the research indicates the presence of the species in the Tanicuchí paramo, something that implies that the sector offers a favorable habitat for the species, highlighting the importance of protecting the habitat of the Andean fox.