What primary types of vegetation sustain the vicuna in the harsh puna environment?
Answer
Tough grasses and cushion plants
In high-altitude environments such as the puna and altiplano, the vegetation is limited by extreme environmental conditions, including cold temperatures and drought. Vicuñas have evolved to subsist on highly specialized plant life that can survive in these harsh, wind-swept landscapes. Tough grasses and cushion plants are the primary food sources, as they are hardy enough to thrive in areas where other nutrient-rich vegetation cannot grow.
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