Long-term Biodiversity Monitoring in Bosque Pehuén

Amid slopes, mountains, and diverse landscapes, Bosque Pehuén— a conservation area located in the Andean Araucanía— is home to mammals, amphibians, birds, reptiles, fish, and insects that form a complex network of interactions. For over 10 years, studies have been conducted to understand the forest’s ecological dynamics through camera trapping of terrestrial vertebrates, vegetation surveys, water quality monitoring, and the collection and analysis of climate data. These efforts generate critical knowledge for the effective conservation and sustainable management of this territory in the long term.

At the beginning of 2020, a monitoring plan was launched using various tools to establish a baseline for terrestrial vertebrates. As a result, 80 species were identified, including mammals such as the puma, güiña, and culpeo fox. Tomás Altamirano, director of conservation at our foundation, highlights that understanding the composition, richness, and density of fauna is crucial for the sustainable management of this ecosystem. Today, we are deepening our understanding of the spatial and temporal occupation of Bosque Pehuén by wildlife through tools such as camera traps.

Long-term monitoring helps assess the effectiveness of conservation plans and adapt management strategies as needed. From a research perspective, Altamirano explains, “Long-term studies and designs allow us to understand how certain species respond to local changes (e.g., wildfires) and global shifts such as climate change, a phenomenon that unfolds over broad temporal scales, from annual variations to transformations over decades.”

Systematic observation provides valuable data on species distribution and interactions, as well as threat control. For instance, it enables the detection of invasive species and evidence-based decision-making. It also reveals patterns of space-sharing: “In the same location, we can observe the movement of humans, native wildlife, invasive mammals, and other organisms, highlighting the complex ecological dynamics of the area”, says Sebastián Carrasco, conservation project coordinator at FMA.

Interactions and Forest Dynamics

How does the puma inhabit the forest? At what times of day is it most active? Camera trap monitoring provides insights into which animals occupy a given territory and their activity patterns. However, to gain a deeper understanding of species interactions and their relationship with the environment, this technique must be complemented with others, such as sampling the surrounding vegetation. By combining both approaches, we can establish links between the presence of certain animals and ecosystem characteristics, offering a more comprehensive perspective on the ecological dynamics that sustain biodiversity.

We have observed interactions within the forest’s food chain, such as the culpeo fox preying on hares and wild boars occupying key amphibian breeding habitats. A collaborative study revealed that wild boars not only share the environment with amphibians but also prey on them. This conclusion is based on an integrated approach: camera traps have identified their presence in amphibian breeding sites, while fecal analysis has confirmed their predatory behavior.

Mammal monitoring

Currently, a monitoring methodology similar to that used by CONAF is being implemented, optimizing the distribution of camera traps in Bosque Pehuén to gain a more accurate understanding of species’ spatial use. This involves dividing the entire area into 500 x 500-meter quadrants and placing a camera trap in each one, ensuring a systematic and representative distribution across the landscape.

The goal of this methodological design is to ensure that camera placement reflects the diversity of Bosque Pehuén. For example, if the protected area contains rivers, cameras are installed in quadrants associated with water bodies, and the same approach is applied to forests of different ages and structures. Additionally, this methodology fosters collaboration and data sharing between public and private protected areas, expanding the spatial and temporal scale of monitoring in the region.

Soundscape: Monitoring Birds and Amphibians

The vocalizations of birds, amphibians, and other animals, which produce frequencies beyond human perception, are part of the wildlife monitoring efforts in Bosque Pehuén. To this end, an acoustic monitoring plan has been initiated using autonomous recorders. These devices capture sounds at specific times, providing information on the presence and distribution of vocalizing species while also enabling the study of the relationship between natural sounds—such as rain and wind—and the sounds of biodiversity. Like camera traps, recorders allow for continuous monitoring of remote or difficult-to-access ecosystems, yielding valuable information for their conservation.

Acoustic monitoring of biophonies is integrated with the study of anthropophonies (i.e., sounds generated by humans), and geophonies (i.e., geo-atmospheric sounds such as the wind), offering a holistic view of natural cycles and species interactions with their abiotic environment. Beyond its scientific value, this approach also has strong artistic and educational components. As Altamirano explains, “It allows us to move towards transdisciplinary monitoring, integrating art and science, such as the exploration of atmospheric phenomena like the puelche wind.”

Journalistic infomation by Rocío Olmos de Aguilera, comunications coordinator.

1. These research efforts have been strengthened through various partnerships with academic institutions and research centers, including Universidad Austral, Universidad Católica de Temuco, and Universidad de la Frontera, among others.
2. Study on the population dynamics of terrestrial vertebrate fauna, conducted between 2021 and 2022 by Pamela Sánchez and Basilio Guiñez, researchers from Universidad Católica de Temuco. The baseline of terrestrial invertebrates refers to a set of initial data and measurements on the invertebrate species present in a given territory.
3. Catalina Javiera Gaete Bustos, Impact of the Disturbance Caused by Sus scrofa (Wild Boar) (Mammalia: Suidae) on the Soil of the Breeding Site of Eupsophus aff. calcaratus (Amphibia: Alsodidae) in the Privately Protected Area Bosque Pehuén, La Araucanía Region (Bachelor’s Thesis, Universidad Católica de Temuco, 2025).
4. The Puelche wind is a dry, warm, and strong wind that originates in the Andes Mountains and blows toward the valleys of Chile.