Diet and habitat selection of Oxymycterus rutilans (Cricetidae)”.

SUAREZ O.V

MAMMALIA

Museum National d´Historie Naturelle

Lugar: Paris- Francia; Año: 1994 vol. 53 p. 406 - 416

0025-1461

 The relantionship between diet composition, food aoffr and habitat use was studied on a population of Oxymycterus rutilans from the  Parana delta, Argentina. Sampling was done in two habitas with different topography, floristic composition and offer of different food resources. The results shows that neither the diet compostion  nor thwe habitat use repond to spatial temporal food variations. The diet of O. rutilans was composed of invertebrates, seeds and plant tissus. A high stability in the minimun consumption of invertebrates was found (70%) while the remaining 30% of the diet varied according to age and reproductive condition of the individuals. However, the preferences in habitat use changed seasonally,probabbly due to the microclimatic conditions of each habitat. This research could be used as evidence that food may not the main factor in deterning the composition and habitat selection Oxymyxterus rutilans in the study area. Different hypothesis are discussed.