Movements and spatial overlapping of rodents in natural environment

GÓMEZ VILLAFAÑE, ISABEL; MAROLI, MALENA; BELÉN CROSIGNANI; VADELL, MARÍA VICTORIA

Posdam

Congreso; 6th International Conference of Rodent Biology and Management and 16th Rodens et Spatium; 2018

Julius Kühn-Institut

Abundance, distribution, movement patterns and habitat selection of reservoir species influence the dispersal of pathogens. The objective of this study is to determine the daily movements of small rodents inhabiting two natural protected areas of central-east Argentina. Movement estimators and qualitative characteristics of rodent paths were determined by means of a spool and line device (102 tracks) and radiotelemetry methods (10 tracks). Tracking was conducted from November 2011 to December 2012 in Otamendi Natural Reserve and from June to October 2017 in Pre Delta National Park. All captured species were tracked in Otamendi, while only Oligoryzomys flavescens, reservoir of the etiologic agent of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in the region, was tracked in Pre-Delta. Movement patterns varied according to species, sex, reproductive season, and body size. Akodon azarae, reservoir of a hantavirus genotype not associated to human disease, had an intermediate linearity index, moved randomly and shared paths with all the other species. Oligoryzomys flavescens made an intensive vertical use of the habitat, had the most linear paths and did not share paths with other species possibly due to its scansorial habits. The mean linear distance traveled by this species was 107 m and the mean area was 5,477 m2. Individuals of this species overlapped 32% (range: 0-99.5%) of their home range with conspecifics. All species, with the exception of Oligoryzomys flavescens, overlapped their paths at an interspecific, intraspecific, intrasexual, and intersexual level. The tunnellike paths below the vegetation cover had signs of frequent use by one or more species of rodents. The sharing of space among rodent species probably results in an increase in the frequency of encounters among individuals and it could favour the direct and indirect transmission of diseases.