Fauna Puna grassland

grazing vicuñas in northern chile

native mammals include llamas, alpacas, vicuñas , guanacos. relatively few birds, such darwin s rhea, andean condor, , miners , yellow-finches, found in vast expanses of puna grasslands, numerous birds associated highland lakes , marshes found in puna grasslands, example andean goose, andean flamingo, andean avocet, giant coot, puna teal , diademed sandpiper-plover. highland puna biome ecompases relatively large rserves. of major species conservation lama vicugna (vicuna) , lama guanicoe. guanaco (lama guanicoe) camelid native south america. animal can grow 4 feet tall (1.2 metres).

birds

bird populations in puna ecosystem surprisingly diverse such harsh , extreme environment. example, lauca national park includes 148 species of birds, represents 1 third of entire chilean bird population. many of these species rare , attract visitors area. 1 example of rare avifauna giant flightless darwin s rhea (rhea pennata), similar ostrich found in old world, reaching 1 meter in height , 20 kg in weight. puna includes great variety of aquatic species particularly @ lago chungara located in northern chile. puna ecosystem has great diversity of fresh water fishes. of these include giant coot, silvery grebe, chilean teal, , diademed sandpiper-plover (one of rarest shorebirds in world).

people of region cultivate barley, potatoes , maca. alpacas, vicuñas, , guanacos raised wool, , llamas wool , transport.human habitation in puna widespread , tends increase east, toward moister areas. native tubers , grains cultivated on large areas of central puna. inhabitants of region cultivate native tubers (potatoes , maca) along non-native grains such barley , native pseudocereals such quinoa. alpacas, vicuñas, llamas, , guanacos raised wool and, result, of entirety of puna under effect of animal grazing. cattle, horses, , donkeys localized in wet/humid puna while llama, sheep , alpaca can raised in both wet , drier areas of puna. fire accompanies grazing management tool , 1 of main threats grasslands. drier areas being threatened progression desertification.