What environmental threat, other than over-exploitation, impacts the vicuna habitat?
Answer
Overgrazing by domestic livestock and climate-driven changes
The delicate ecosystem of the puna grasslands is highly vulnerable to degradation. Overgrazing by domestic livestock creates direct competition for the limited vegetation available in these high-altitude zones, threatening the food supply for vicuñas. Additionally, climate-driven changes to the region affect the stability of these grasslands. Protecting this specific biome from these pressures is essential for maintaining the health, genetic diversity, and numbers of wild vicuña populations.
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