Spatial ecology and movements of the red viscacha rat in contrasting habitats of Monte Desert

TARQUINO-CARBONELL, A P; OJEDA RICARDO A; AGUSTINA A OJEDA

estados unidos

Congreso; 100TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAMMALOGISTS; 2021

ASM

Viscacha rats, genus Tympanoctomys (Rodentia, Octodontidae) are habitat and dietspecialists, with low-density patchily distributed populations across the Monte andPatagonia deserts in Argentina. Although we know their geographic ranges, diet,ecophysiology and genetic characteristics for some of its species, data about their spatialecology and movement are inexistent. This study was aimed to quantify spatialdistribution, habitat use and movements (home ranges) of the red viscacha rat T.barrerae. Fieldwork involved use of live traps, telemetry, habitats and burrowcharacterizations during 2017-2018. A total of 33 adult individuals were tracked. Wefound burrow densities associated with habitat heterogeneity. Burrow characteristics(e.g. entrances) were associated with cover vegetation. The distribution of burrows wasaggregated at large scales (> 1000 m), while random and regularly distributed at smallscales (0-100 m). Most activity was concentrated after sunset, and before sunrise,particularly between 11 pm until 5 am. The mean home range size in males was 493.62m 2 , but smaller in females. The largest home range sizes were recorded inheterogeneous habitats. The spatial ecology and movements of T. barrerae, coupledwith intrinsic attributes of its biology and distribution of genus Tympanoctomys, providea more comprehensive picture of the natural history of the vizcacha rats while openingnew lines of research and landscape ecological considerations in order to define theconservation of desert small mammals.