Microhabitat use by rodent species in a central Brazilian cerrado

Abstract

We analysed microhabitat use by the rodents Calomys tener, Necromys lasiurus and Thalpomys lasiotis and the factors that may influence their abundances in “murundu” grasslands (open fields with termite mounds) at Aguas Emendadas Ecological Station, Planaltina, Federal District, Brazil. Two grids with 100 sampling points were established and traps were placed at each intersection of the grid, where five microhabitat variables were also measured. Rodents were trapped from June through October 2008. Microhabitat explained 21% of the variation in community structure, with grass density and the number of termite mounds explaining most of the variation. Necromys lasiurus was most often captured in areas with dense grasses, whereas T. lasiotis and C. tener were most often in areas less dense with grasses.