The relation between food availability space use and territoriality in Akodon azarae

BONAVENTURA S.M; SUAREZ O.V; KRAVETZ, F.O

MAMMALIA

Museum National d´Historie Naturelle

Lugar: Paris- Francia; Año: 1992 vol. 56 p. 406 - 416

0025-1461

A live trapping study of Akodon azarae was conducted in a roedside of Pampean agroecosystem  to examine the effect of food and cover availability on space use and territoriality in this species. During the breeding season, females presented a trong terrritoriality behavior which was lost during the non reproductive season. No territorial behavior was observed in males in neither season. In females, but not in males, home range selection and siza was negatively associated with food and cover availability. During the breeding season males hoome range doubled that of females and mating formation was not detected. Finally, for a A. azarae individuals at roadsides we propose a promiscuous mating system. We believe that the responsiveness of females to resources quality reflects a direct reliance on resource acquisition for reproductive succes. In contrast, the lack of responsiveness of males to resource may reflect a relative independence from resource acquisition in seeking reproductive sucess.