AN APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF RICHNESS AND ABUNDANCE OF SMALL MAMMALS IN LA FLORIDA, SAN LUIS, ARGENTINA

BRAVO, GABRIELA BELÉN; CARRIZO, MARÍA CELINA; CISTERNA, GABRIELA BELÉN; GRIOTTI, MARIANA

San Luis

Encuentro; XXXII Annual Meeting; 2015

Sociedad de Biologia de Cuyo

La Florida is located 50 km to the northeast of San Luis city (33°07′00″S; 66°10′00″O). It corresponds to the Chaco Seco eco-region, with a pronounced seasonal climate, broad range of temperature and rains occurrence during the summer. The small mammals fauna of this region is very diverse, although it has been poorly studied at the local level. The small mammals of the Campsite of the Universidad Nacional de San Luis (UNSL), were studied during 2011, 2013 and 2014. Activities took place as part of a practical experience developed in the subject Population Ecology, for students of the UNSL. Sherman traps were distributed in transects and grids. The capture effort was 300 traps-night (2011 and 2014) and 160 traps-night (in 2013). Individuals were identified, classified by sex and released. Richness, diversity (at the genus level), relative abundance and sex proportions were estimated. The data collected in different environments of the camping were compared, relating the mammal communities to microhabitat descriptions (vegetation cover and soil type). Seven species of small mammals were determined, almost 30% of the total cited for San Luis province. We registered the presence of Calomys laucha, C. musculinus, Calomys sp, Graomys griseoflavus, Phyllotis sp and Thylamys sp., that had not been cited for this locality before. C. musculinus was the species found in the greatest proportion (0.58 relative abundance). Possible differences in microhabitat characteristics of sites with and without capture were assessed. However, Student test showed no significant difference in between them. We also designed maps of spacial distribution of species found in the different environments studied. This study is an approach to assessing the state of small mammal communities in San Luis and demonstrates the importance of the study area in terms of local and regional biodiversity.