William L Franklin

Research

As a Mammalian Wildlife Ecologist, Dr. Franklin's research interests have involved a number of species, including prairie dogs, raccoons, white-tailed deer, guard-llamas, and South American foxes and pumas. The primary focus of his research, however, has been on the behavioral and population ecology of the wild camelids of South America. His initial work was with endangered vicuña at the Pampa Galeras National Vicuña Reserve in the high Andes of southern Peru. He then conducted and directed field research on the guanaco in Tierra del Fuego and Torres del Paine National Park in southern Chile from the mid-1970s until his retirement in 2000, after which he conducted field research on an island population of guanacos in the Falkland Islands. He is currently writing a book on the Guanacos of Patagonia.

Recent Honors

"This item's Research Interest Score is higher than 97% of research items published in 2022.” ResearchGate in reference to: Franklin, W. L. (2022). Guanaco colonisation of Tierra del Fuego Island from mainland Patagonia: Walked, swam, or by canoe? Geo: Geography and Environment.

Featured Speaker (in Spanish) at the Argentina National Zooarcheological Congress, Buenos Aires December 2022 on new theory how Guanacos colonized Tierra del Fuego.

Hall of Fame, El Segundo High School, El Segundo, California (Inducted 2014), honoring alumni scientists, professional athletes, actors, artists, and business people.

Medal of Honor for service and research in Chile’s National Parks, specifically Torres del Paine National Park in southern Patagonia.  Presented by the Chilean National Parks and Forestry Service, October 2016.

IUCN Survival Service Commission South American Camelid Specialist Group,  Active Member

Publications

Franklin, W. L. 2023. Observational vs. GPS Data: The Case of Spatial and Social Ecology of the Andean Vicuña (Vicugna vicugna). Environ Anal Eco Stud. 000749. 10(5).  https://crimsonpublishers.com/eaes/pdf/EAES.000749.pdf 

Franklin, W. L. (2022). Guanaco colonisation of Tierra del Fuego Island from mainland Patagonia: Walked, swam, or by canoe? Geo: Geography and Environment, 9, e00110. Available from: https://rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/geo2.110

Donadio, E., Zanón, J. I., Alarcón, P., & Franklin, W. L. 2022. Guanaco predation by pumas and its relationship to Patagonian food webs. In P. D. Carmanchahi & G. Lichtenstein (Eds.), Guanacos and people in Patagonia: a socioecological approach to a relationship of conflicts and opportunities (pp 103-120). Natural and Social Sciences of Patagonia book series. Springer Nature, Switzerland AG. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-06656-6_5 

González, B. A., Acebes, P., Corti, P., Grimberg, M., Iranzo, E., Malo, J. E., … & Franklin, W. L. 2022. Historical perspective and current advances in ecology, conservation, and management of the guanaco in the Chilean Patagonia. In P. D. Carmanchahi & G. Lichtenstein (Eds.), Guanacos and people in Patagonia: a socioecological approach to a relationship of conflicts and opportunities (pp 191-232). Natural and Social Sciences of Patagonia book series. Springer Nature, Switzerland AG. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-06656-6_8 

Franklin W. L. 2022. Vicuña dung piles for self-orientation: Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 103(1):e01946 https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/bes2.1946

Franklin W. L. 2022. Vicuña dung gardens at the edge of the cryosphere: Comment. Ecology, https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecy.3522

Marsh, C. J., Sica, Y. V., Burgin, C. J., Dorman, W. A., Anderson, R. C., et al. [148 authors William L. Franklin, No. 34]. (2022). Expert range maps of global mammal distributions harmonised to three taxonomic authorities. Journal of Biogeography, 00, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14330

Franklin, W.L. 2020.  Foreword.  Pp. xi-xiii in: Safley, M.J.  VICUNAS - Survival of the Finest.  Publisher Quechua Benefit, Hillsboro, OR.  240pp.

Franklin, W.L. 2020.  Preface.  La Vicuña Austral.  González, B.A. (Editor).  Publisher Faculty of Forest Sciences and Nature Conservation, National Forestry Corporation, and Specialist Group on Wild South American Camelids, Santiago, Chile.

Franklin, W.L. 2017.  Research, a Central Purpose of National Parks and the History of “Proyecto Puma” 1975 – 2000 in Magallanes and Torres del Paine, Chile.  Second International Symposium on Research in Torres del Paine National Park, Puerto Natales, Chile 

Sarno, R.S., D.E. and W.L. Franklin.  2015.     Estimating effective population size of guanacos in Patagonia: an integrative approach for wildlife conservation.  Conservation Genetics. Guanaco Ne_Con Gen_10.1007_s10592-015-0730-4.pdf

González, B.A., Orozcoter-Wengel, P., von Borries, R., Johnson, W.E., Franklin, W.L., Marín, J.C. 2014.  Maintenance of genetic diversity in an introduced island population of Guanacos after seven decades and two severe demographic bottlenecks: implications for camelid conservation. PLoS One 9(3): e91714. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0091714.

Franklin, W.L. and B.A. González.  2011-2014. El GUANACO.  PUBLICACIÓNES POR TÓPICO DE LOS MIEMBROS DEL GRUPO ESPECIALISTA EN CAMELIDOS SUDAMERICANOS (GECS) PERTENECIENTE A LA  COMISION DE SUPERVIVENCIA DE ESPECIES, UNIÓN INTERNACIONAL PARA LA CONSERVACIÓN DE LA NATURALEZA (UICN).  24 PAGES  camelid.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/listado_publicaciones_guanaco_2014.pdf

Franklin, W.L. and B.A. González.  2011-2014. LA VICUÑA.  PUBLICACIÓNES POR TÓPICO DE LOS MIEMBROS DEL GRUPO ESPECIALISTA EN CAMELIDOS SUDAMERICANOS (GECS) PERTENECIENTE A LA  COMISION DE SUPERVIVENCIA DE ESPECIES, UNIÓN INTERNACIONAL PARA LA CONSERVACIÓN DE LA NATURALEZA (UICN).  26 PAGES.  camelid.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/listado_publicaciones_vicunia_2014.pdf

Franklin, W.L.  2012.  Vicuña and guanaco behavioral ecology.  A necessary understanding for their conservation and management.  Pp. 11-20 in: Raggi S., L.A., Rojas S., I., Parraguez G., V.H. and Sepúlveda H., N. (eds.).  Resúmenes VI Congreso Mundial Camélidos.  Arica, Chile.

Franklin, W.L., N.K. Drufke, and K. J. Powell.  2012.  Guard llamas: their use and effectiveness in North America for protecting sheep, goats, cattle, and poultry against canid predators.  Pp. 21-36 in: Raggi S., L.A., Rojas S., I., Parraguez G., V.H. and Sepúlveda H., N. (eds.).  Resúmenes VI Congreso Mundial Camélidos.  Arica, Chile.

Franklin, W.L.  2011.  Family Camelidae (Camels).  Pp. 206-246 in: Wilson, D.E. & Mittermeier, R.A. (eds.).  Handbook of the Mammals of the World.  Vol. 2.  Hoofed Mammals.  Lynx Ediciones, Barcelona, Spain.  885pp.  A comprehensive review of the camelid family including systematics, evolution, morphological aspects, habitat, general habits and behavior, communication, food and feeding, breeding-reproduction, movements, home range, social organization, relationship with humans, status and conservation.  Individual treatments of the Guanaco, Llama, Vicuna, Alpaca, Bactrian, and Dromedary includes specifics on taxonomy, distribution, descriptive notes, habitat, food and feeding, breeding, activity patterns, movements, home range, social organization, status and conservation.  Six maps, ten drawings, and 42 photographs. See: http://www.lynxeds.com/hmw/handbook-mammals-world-volume-2

Franklin, W.L.  2010.  The vicuña and guanaco of South America: an overview of behavioral and population ecology. Pages 67-75 in XXXIII Reunión Científica Annual de la Asociación Peruana de Producción Animal, Conferencias y Exposición de Artículos Cientificos. Huancavelica, Peru.

Sarno, R.J., M.S. Bank, H.A. Stern, and W.L. Franklin. 2006. Effects of age, sex, season, and social dynamics on juvenile guanaco subordinate behavior. Journal of Mammalogy 87(1):41-47.

Franklin, W.L., S. Poncet, J. Poncet. 2005. The history of Staats Island in the West Falkland Islands: its guanacos, foxes, shanty, and sojourners. The Falkland Islands Journal 8(4):21-64 + front cover.

Franklin, W.L. and M.M. Grigione. 2005. The enigma of guanacos in the Falkland Islands: the legacy of John Hamilton. Journal of Biogeography 32:661-675.

Young, J.K., and W.L. Franklin. 2004. Territorial fidelity of male guanacos in the Patagonia of southern Chile. Journal of Mammalogy 85(1):72-78.

Bank, M.S., R.J. Sarno, N.K. Campbell and W.L. Franklin. 2002. Predation of guanacos (Lama guanicoe) by southernmost mountain lions (Puma concolor) during a historically severe winter in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. Journal of Zoology 258:215-222.

Sarno, R.J., W.L. Franklin, S.J. O'Brien, and W.E. Johnson. 2001. Assessing genetic differentiation between an island and mainland population of guanacos in southern Chile utilizing mtDNA and microsatellite markers. Animal Conservation 4(2):93-101.

Franklin W.L., W.E. Johnson, J.A. Iriarte, and R.J. Sarno. 1999. Ecology of the Patagonia mountain lion, Felis concolor patagonica, in southern Chile. Biological Conservation 90: 33-40.

Franklin, W.L. 1983. Contrasting socioecologies of South American wild camelids: the vicuña and the guanaco. Pp. 573-629 in J.F. Eisenberg and D.G. Kleiman (Eds.). Advances in the study of mammalian behavior. Spec. Publ. Am. Soc. of Mammals. No. 7. 753pp.

Articles

Franklin, W. L. 2005. Penguins, dolphins and guanacos: an adventure to the Falkland Islands. International Camelid Quarterly 4(1):7-20.

Franklin, W.L. 1991. Patagonia puma: the lord of land's end. National Geographic 179:102-113.

Franklin, W.L. 1981. Living with guanacos: wild camels of South America. National Geographic 160(1):62-75.

Franklin, W.L. 1973. High, wild world of the vicuña. National Geographic 143(1):76-91.
 

Films

Franklin, W. L. - Helped produce VICUNA SALVATION, 2023, South American National Geographic, Luis Ara Films. Bilingual documentary for television on how the Vicuña was saved from extinction.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TELEVISION. Patagonia Puma: grey ghost in the pillars of fire. 1997. Winner of 3 international film festival awards. William L. Franklin, Scientific Consultant.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TELEVISION. Spitting Mad: guanacos of South America. 1997. William L. Franklin, Scientific Consultant.

NOVA. Land of Llamas. 1990. William L. Franklin, Associate Producer and Scientific Consultant.

NATURE. Treasure of the Andes. 1992. William L. Franklin, Scientific Consultant.

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION. 1984. Guanacos of the Patagonia (English and Spanish). Winner of 7 international film festival awards, including The Best International Non-Commerical Behavioral Film 1980-1985 by the Animal Behavior Society. William L. Franklin, Producer.