The Inca Empire was the largest ancient civilization in South America, extending across almost 4000 km of distinct environments from the Pacific coast to the Andes, and throughout most of the arid desert between. The present study highlights the importance of guano birds (Guanay Cormorant Leucocarbo bougainvillii, Peruvian Pelican Pelecanus thagus and Peruvian Booby Sula variegata) for the expansion and prosperity of the Inca Empire. The use of guano as a fertilizer was fundamental to sustain the agricultural development of the empire and, it has been argued, was the basis for its rapid growth. The access to guano on coastal islands and its subsequent transportation to highlands provided food security for a population of more than 8 million. The importance of guano birds to the Inca Empire led to the development of management plans based on a penal code aiming to preserve these species and their natural habitats. These protective actions may represent the first conservation measures ever implemented by humans based on the importance of species protection for human activities and livelihoods.

中文翻译：

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鸟粪鸟对印加帝国的重要性以及人类实施的首批保护措施

印加帝国是南美洲最大的古代文明，从太平洋沿岸到安第斯山脉，以及整个之间的大部分干旱沙漠，横跨近4000公里的独特环境。本研究强调了鸟鸟（瓜y变种Leucocarbo bougainvillii，秘鲁鹈鹕Pelecanus thagus和秘鲁Booby Sula variegata）的重要性。），以扩大印加帝国的繁荣。鸟粪肥料的使用是维持该帝国农业发展的基础，并且一直被认为是其快速增长的基础。进入沿海岛屿的鸟粪及其随后向高地的运输为超过800万人口提供了粮食安全。鸟粪鸟对印加帝国的重要性导致基于旨在保护这些物种及其自然栖息地的刑法典制定了管理计划。这些保护行动可能是人类根据物种保护对人类活动和生计的重要性而采取的首批保护措施。