@article{fdi:010088756,
  title = {{L}lamas ({L}lama glama) enhance proglacial ecosystem development in {C}ordillera {B}lanca, {P}eru},
  author = {{Z}immer, {A}. and {B}each, {T}. and {R}egalado, {S}. {R}. and {A}liaga, {J}. {S}. and {E}ncarnación, {R}. {C}. and {A}nthelme, {F}abien},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{W}orldwide, mountain glaciers are shrinking rapidly. {C}onsequently, large areas are becoming available for the development of novel alpine ecosystems. {T}hese harsh environments, however, delay primary succession. {I}n this study with a local community, we conducted an inclusion experiment to investigate whether {L}lama glama influences soils and vegetation primary succession following glacial retreat. {A}t the foot of the {U}ruashraju glacier in the {C}ordillera {B}lanca, {P}eru (similar to 4680 m.a.s.l.), we established four llama inclusion plots and four control plots that we studied from 2019 to 2022, 24-40 years after deglacierization. {A}fter three years, the llama plots had significantly increased soil organic carbon and soil nitrogen. {I}n the llama plots, we found a large, significant increase in vascular plant cover (+57%) between the second and third years of experimentation, and we identified four new species that were not present in 2019. {O}ur results suggest that {L}lama glama, through their latrine behavior and role as a seed disperser, enhances the primary succession and novel ecosystem formation in recently deglacierized landscapes. {O}ur study provides scientific support that rewilding of native {A}ndean camelids may favor adaptation to glacier retreat and inform conservation and management strategies in proglacial landscapes.},
  keywords = {{PEROU}, {CORDILLERA} {BLANCA}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{S}cientific {R}eports - {N}ature},
  volume = {13},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {15936 [15 p.]},
  ISSN = {2045-2322},
  year = {2023},
  DOI = {10.1038/s41598-023-41458-x},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010088756},
}