Use of resources by the subterranean rodent Ctenomys mendocinus (Rodentia,

ALBANESE SOLEDAD; RODRIGUEZ DANIELA; DACAR, MARÍA ANA; OJEDA, RICARDO A.

JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS

Elsevier

Año: 2009 p. 1 - 6

0140-1963

The subterranean mode of life is a well known example of evolutionary convergence in morphology, physiology and behavior all around the world. In South America, the desert tuco-tuco, Ctenomys mendocinus, is a fossorial herbivorous rodent which inhabits the central aridlands of Argentina. The purpose of our study was to analyze their utilization of space and plant resources in the heterogeneous lowland Monte desert. In particular we quantified the degree of environmental segregation: soil properties and vegetation in four types of habitats, their impact on woody vegetation and diet. The highest activity was recorded in sand dunes, whereas the Larrea shrubland habitat had the lowest activity. These differences were associated to habitat heterogeneity and particular soil hardness. Degree of herbivory varied among habitats, being Larrea divaricata, Lycium, and Acantholippia seriphioides the most damaged (i.e. gnawed) perennial shrubs. The desert tuco-tuco, behaves like a folivorous-grazer, feeding on leaves of grasses, mostly Panicum. Regardless of the tuco-tucos conspicuousness in arid landscapes, this is the first study addressing habitat and plant niche resources segregation by the desert tuco-tuco C. mendocinus in the heterogeneous lowland Monte desert.