Ecological study of the subterranean rodent Ctenomys mendocinus in the Andean outskirts of Mendoza, Argentina: population density and space use

PUIG, S.; ROSI, M.I.; VIDELA, F.; ROIG, V.G.

REVISTA CHILENA DE HISTORIA NATURAL

SOC BIOLGIA CHILE

Lugar: Santiago de Chile; Año: 1992 vol. 65 p. 247 - 254

0716-078X

In Paramillos de Uspallata (3,000 m elevation), located on the Andean outskirts near Mendoza, we studied the density, spatial arrangement and burrow structure of a tuco-tuco population of Ctenomys mendocinus, Philippi 1869. During fall of 1986 and spring of 1987 we carried out censuses of active burrow mouths, animal captures up to total removal, and burrow digging. The burrow system hada a linear configuration, with a zigzag main tunnel, and a large number of short side tunnels. The presence of abandoned tunnel sections was frequent, as well as that of vegetaton deposits within the tunnels. The presence of abandoned tunnel sections was frequent, as well as that of vegetation deposits within the tunnels. A density of 10 animals/ha was recorded in fall, decreasing to 3 animals/ha in spring. The number of active burrow holes/ha have also decreased from fall (220) to spring (52). The largest distances measured between captures were recorded among adult males and the shortest amog adult females and inmature animals. Following the nearest-neighbor distance method we determined a contagious spatial arrangement for active holes, and a uniform one for animals. This type of spatial arrangement and the low vegetative cover, suggest that population density of tuco-tucos was near carring capacity.