Abstract
The population dynamics and reproductive issues of two species of rodents of the family Cricetidae, Rice Rats (Euryoryzomys russatus) and Pygmy Rice Rats (Oligoryzomys nigripes), were studied for 24 months in an Atlantic Forest area in southern Brazil. Euryoryzomys russatus presented density-dependent population fluctuation, and recruitment was positively associated with temperature. Oligoryzomys nigripes displayed the lowest abundance, greatest population fluctuation and shortest permanence time. Abundance and survival were found to be negatively correlated with temperature. The sex ratio was not biased in any of the species.
Highlights
In the last decades, anthropic pressure over natural environments on Santa Catarina Island, resulting from human population growth, have led to overexploitation and destruction of the Atlantic Forest
In this context, aiming to deepen the knowledge of population dynamics of small rodents, we studied a community of small mammals in a protected area of Santa Catarina Island
The study was conducted at the Desterro Environmental Conservation Unit (DECU) (4.9km2; 27o52’S, 48o50’W), located in the central region of Santa Catarina Island in southern Brazil
Summary
Anthropic pressure over natural environments on Santa Catarina Island, resulting from human population growth, have led to overexploitation and destruction of the Atlantic Forest. The continuous forest landscape of the past has been turned into isolated patches, ranging over less than 10% of the island territory (Caruso, 1990). This fragmentation process may bring consequences such as biodiversity loss and vulnerability of the remaining populations (Viana, 1990). Small mammals have been used as indicators of the effects of urban and agricultural expansion over the biodiversity, and as indicators of habitat quality, throughout studies that have investigated how species remain in landscapes with forest patches and altered areas (Pardini et al, 2005; Umetsu and Pardini, 2007). In the last decade have studies been conducted with a focus on the ecology of marsupials (Goulart et al, 2006; Graipel and Santos Filho, 2006) and small rodents (Graipel et al 2006)
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