Abstract

ALTRICHTER, Mariana et al. Small mammal communities of mountain forest and grassland in Sierra Chica, Cordoba, Argentina. Ecol. apl. [online]. 2004, vol.3, n.1-2, pp.122-127. ISSN 1726-2216.

Composition, relative abundance, species diversity and relation with habitat structure of small mammal communities of the Sierras Chicas were studied in the grassland and forest vegetation layers of La Quebrada Reserve, Córdoba, Argentina. Traps were set in two 30 spot grids for three consecutive nights, seasonally from spring 1991 to winter 1993. Seven species of Muridae were captured: Akodon azarae, A. dolores, Calomys musculinus, C. venustus, Necromys benefactus, Phyllotys xanthopygus and Oxymycterus rufus, and two species of Didelphidae: Monodelphis dimidiata and Thylamys elegans. The reserve is zoogeographically representative of the Sierras’ mammalian fauna, and it has a particular composition in respect of other provincial localities. Six species were caught in the grassland, with major contribution of Akodon azarae, Necromys benefactus. y Monodelphis dimidiata. P. xanthopygus was the most abundant species in the forest. Small mammal communities composition was different in both habitats (Czekanowki I. = 0.009). Relative abundance and specific diversity were higher in grassland. Murids augmented in autumn-winter and Didelphids in summer-autumn. Habitat use related to vegetation cover analysis revealed forbs and grasses' (between 0.11 and 0.40 m high) as the most important vegetation layer to predict small mammals abundance (R²= 0.74; P< 0.04).

Keywords : communities; Didelphidae; Muridae; mountain forest Bosque grassland; Sierras Chicas; Córdoba; Argentina.

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