MAMMALS OF THE MONTE DESERT: FROM REGIONAL TO LOCAL ASSEMBLAGES

RICARDO A. OJEDA, SOLANA TABENI AND VALERIA CORBALÁN

JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY

ALLIANCE COMMUNICATIONS GROUP DIVISION ALLEN PRESS

Lugar: Allen Press; Año: 2011 p. 1 - 32

0022-2372

Much of South America consists of diverse arid and semiarid arid regions, characterized by high mammal endemism as a result of a complex interplay between site and lineage histories. In this review, we summarize and highlight several biogeographical and ecological features of the small mammals of South America drylands, with special focus on the Monte Desert biome. We provide information on population characteristics, community structure, food and habitat use, and responses to disturbances. Major findings at different scales include: the distinctiveness and high species turnover across South American drylands and Monte Desert ecoregions; synchronous population fluctuations with high variability between years; herbivory and omnivory as dominant trophic strategies; community structure organized through habitat and food segregation, and the importance of a landscape mosaic of grazed and ungrazed areas for maintenance of small and medium sized mammal diversity.