Abstract

POLOP, Francisco et al. Estructura de la dieta de roedores sigmodontinos en arbustales del ecotono bosque-estepa del suroeste de Argentina. Mastozool. neotrop. [online]. 2015, vol.22, n.1, pp.85-95. ISSN 0327-9383.

The aim of this study is to characterize the diet of six rodent species, which coexist in shrubland environments of the steppe-forest ecotone of Argentinean Patagonia. Composition of fecal pellets collected from live-trap captures, during the reproductive period of three years (2004-2006), was determined by microhistological techniques using an identification key for representative plants of our study areas. Food items were grouped into vegetative parts, fruits-grains and arthropods, considering general affinity. To evaluate the similarity of diets, items identified by species or genus consumed for each rodent species were used in a cluster analysis. The results showed trophic differences between populations of the small mammal assemblage. Abrothrix longipilis, A. olivaceus and Chelemys macronyx could be characterized as artropodivorous, while Loxodontomys micropus and Reithrodon auritus as herbivorous-graminivorous, and Oligoryzomys longicaudatus as frugivorous-granivorous. Our data were not enough to test hypothesis about habitat use and competence, but they show the trophic plasticity of some rodent species when we compared them with the results obtained by previous authors in other regions of Argentina, Perú and Chile.

Keywords : Chubut; Small rodents; Trophic characterization.

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