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Why was the population of the South American steppes and plains sparse?

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distribution of aboriginal South American and circum-Caribbean cultural groups — South American nomad Distribution of aboriginal South American and circum-Caribbean cultural groups.

The population of the South American steppes and plains was among the sparsest on the continent primarily due to the limitations of the nomadic lifestyle practiced by its inhabitants. These indigenous groups relied exclusively on hunting and gathering, as they did not practice agriculture and lacked domesticated animals, with the possible exception of the dog.1

Because their survival depended on exploiting natural resources through hunting—such as guanaco and rhea—and gathering roots and herbs, the available food production was inherently low. This subsistence strategy necessitated constant movement within prescribed territories to find food, which prevented the establishment of large, permanent villages or the accumulation of significant material wealth. Consequently, the environmental constraints and the technological limitations of their nomadic culture restricted the population density of these regions.123