THERMAL BEHAVIOUR OF CREVICES USED BY OCTOMYS MIMAX AT THE ISCHIGUALASTO PROVINCIAL PARK (ARGENTINA).

CAMPOS V.; BORGHI C.; SANABRIA E.; BENINATO V.; LAMBRUSCHI D.; GIANNONI S.

Mendoza

Congreso; X Congreso internacional de mastozoología; 2009

Many rodents are able to survive in desert environment because use crevices in rocks to protect them from extreme temperatures.The insulating ability of rocks to moderate fluctuations in temperature can help them to properly thermoregulate. The aims were: -assess the insulating ability of crevices used of O. mimax; - assess if the color of the rocks influences their thermal behaviour. We selected 11 active crevices of sedimentary dark-coloured rocks and 11 light-coloured rocks. The temperature were record every 3 hours during 3 days, in summer. Inside the crevices.