COVID-19: An unplanned experiment to assess the effect of tourism on ungulates in a world heritage site

Abstract

Nature-based tourism in protected areas can benefit millions of people, generating significant economic income. However, tourism can also have negative impacts on the environment and wildlife. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of cities and towns, bringing substantial disruption to various human activities and providing an opportunity to assess the impact of reduced tourism activity from the general level. In this study, we assessed the association between tourism and guanaco (Lama guanicoe) activity patterns in Ischigualasto Provincial Park across two contrasting periods: pre-pandemic and pandemic during the COVID-19 outbreak. The different roads in the area were used as a proxy of tourism activity, and comparisons of activity patterns of guanaco between the roads were made, taking into account both periods. Based on camera-trapping data, we analyzed the daily activity patterns of the species, as well as whether there was a change in activity toward night hours. We found that guanacos changed their activity patterns in response to human tourism activities and increased their nocturnal activity in places with high tourist activity in pre-pandemic periods; however, we found no such effects during the pandemic when tourist pressure was low. These results are vital for the area's management aimed at conserving the species since, currently, after the pandemic, tourism activities have been resumed, and the number of visitors to Ischigualasto Provincial Park has grown exponentially.