Small mammals of the Monte Desert: from regional to local assemblages, ecology and adaptation

OJEDA, R.; TABENI S.

Mendoza, Argentina

Simposio; 10th International Mammalogical Congress; 2009

IADIZA CCT CONICET, Mendoza

A great part of our understanding of the ecology of desert small mammals is the result of years of ecological research on North American deserts. This have led to generalizations regarding the ecological, morphological, behavioral and physiological attributes of desert rodents (i.e. bipedal locomotion, granivory,seed hoarding) for desert existence. In comparisons with other deserts of the world, the temperate Monte Desert, was regarded, for more than two decades, as impoverished in terms of species richness and in the repertoire of xeric adaptations. With this background as a framework, we provide a characterization of this long strip of heterogeneous climate and landscapes of shrublands, sandunes, saltpans and woodlands, and an overview of its small mammals. We review evidence on biogeographical, ecological, physiological, morphological and behavioral studies of small mammals of the South American drylands, and the temperate Monte Desert in particular. The assemblages of small mammals show a great diversity of niche types and attributes for desert existence. In particular, we analyze and discuss the degree of adaptation, convergence and the generalization of key processes. We point out the need to be precautious when comparing heterogeneous arid ecosystems and emphasize on the role of the Monte Desert as a model for ecological research and understanding of the small mammals from southern hemisphere aridlands (Partially supported through grants from CONICET, PIP 5944 and AGENCIA, PICT 11 768 and 25778).