Guanaco distribution modeling in the last 2500 years in Northwest Patagonia

Context: The guanaco is one of the four species of South American camels, and is the largest native mammal inhabiting arid and semi-arid environments in South America. Although guanaco was abundant and widely distributed in the past, currently its density and distribution range are substantially reduced, inhabiting mainly in Argentine Patagonia in small isolated groups. The decline in guanaco populations is most likely related to the Anthropocene defaunation process that is affecting large mammals in developing countries worldwide, but the extent and causes of these changes are not well understood.
Aims: Explore both the changes in the distribution of guanaco populations in Northwest Patagonia and the environmental and anthropic factors that shaped the distribution patterns, employing a long-term perspective spanning from the end of the Late Holocene to present times (i.e., last 2500 years).
Methods: We combine archaeological information, ethnohistorical records and current observations..., We collected guanaco occurrences from archaeological, ethnohistorical and current sighting data, and separate this data in periods (Lata Holocene, Historic and Current). Likewise, different bioclimatic and anthropic variables that could contribute to explain guanaco distribution in Northwest Patagonia were collected. Finally, the R script to model guanaco distribution in each period and estimate the explicatory power of each variable is also upload., , # Guanaco Distribution Modeling in the last 2500 years in Northwest Patagonia

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.gqnk98svr](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.gqnk98svr)

Here are guanaco (*Lama guanicoe*) occurrences that we collected from archaeological, ethnohistorical and current sighting data from Northwest Patagonia (Argentina), separated in periods (Lata Holocene, Historic and Current). Likewise, we also provide different bioclimatic and anthropic variables that could contribute to explain guanaco distribution in Northwest Patagonia, as well as the R script to model guanaco distribution in each period and estimate the explicatory power of each variable. We found significant changes in guanaco distribution throughout time. Specifically, in the Current period (last 30 years of sightings) guanaco distribution shifted to the East, and the main explanatory variables are Human footprint and herders summer camps.

## Description of the data and file structure

The files upload are:

* 3 csv fil...