Los carnívoros del pastizal

FARIAS, A.; CANEPUCCIA, A.

Reserva de Biosfera Mar Chiquita: Características físicas, biológicas y ecológicas.

Editorial Martín

Lugar: Mar del Plata; Año: 2001; p. 305 - 309

Inside Parque Atlantico Mar Chiquito limits we could find several mammal predator species belonging to three families of the Order Carnivora (Canidae, Felidae y Mustelidae) and the one marsupial family (Didelphidae). The biology of most part of those species is poorly known; only two studies about the tropic and spatial ecology of pampa’s fox (Pseudalopex gymnocercus) and Geoffroy’s cat (Oncifelis geoffroyi) have been carried out. Both overlaps their geographical distribution, have similar body mass, and could show competitive interactions. However, in grasslands around Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon they show different diet and habitat use, likely decreasing their niche overlap. Pampa’s fox eat important amounts of introduced mammals (ungulate carrion and hare) and inhabit grassland near human exploited areas. On the other hand, Geoffroy’s cat use the water birds` breeding and resting sand banks at the creeks’ outfalls. These birds form the major item in its diet. The impact of high developed human activities (agriculture and tourism) in the area could affect the mammal predator populations, being negative for those more specialized and less adaptable species like O. geoffroyi. These species are likely dependent on the dense grasslands habitat near the lagoon coast and creeks, which must be the aim of conservation effort.