Is Microcavia australis (Rodentia: Caviidae)associated with a particular plant structure in the Monte desert of Argentina?

TOGNELLI, MF; CAMPOS, CM; OJEDA, RA; ROIG, VG; CLAUDIA MONICA CAMPOS

Mammalia (Paris)

Año: 1995 vol. 59 p. 327 - 333

<!-- @page { size: 21cm 29.7cm; margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } --> The selection of plant cover as microhabitat by small mammals has been widely studied. However there has been little reference made to the structure of such cover. The small cavy, Microcaviaaustralis, is a diurnal herbivorous rodent that lives in colonies under brushy vegetation. We looked at the association between small cavies and a particular plant structure for building their burrow systems. We found significant correlations between the number of burrows and plant structures characterized by branches that almost reach the ground at their borders. We also found an association between the presence of small cavies and the plant species Condaliamicrophylla.