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Characteristics of Dispersing Pampean Grassland Mice ( Akodon azarae ) in Agroecosystems of Central Argentina.

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Title: Characteristics of Dispersing Pampean Grassland Mice ( Akodon azarae ) in Agroecosystems of Central Argentina.
Authors: Cittadino, Emilio A., Bilenca, David N., Busch, María, Kravetz, Fernando O.
Source: Studies on Neotropical Fauna & Environment. Apr2002, Vol. 37 Issue 1, p1. 7p. 1 Diagram, 4 Charts, 4 Graphs.
Subjects: Akodon, Biotic communities, Reproduction
Geographic Terms: Argentina
Abstract: We studied the characteristics of dispersing Akodon azarae inagroecosystems of central Argentina. The landscape of the study area consistsof cropfields surrounded by weedy margins, which provide good quality habitatfor A. azarae . We sampled six times between June 1991 and May 1993.We defined a central area (center) where all A. azarae were removed,while capture-mark-release trapping was conducted in the adjacent areas (laterals).Individuals were characterized as residents if they did not change their homerange between trapping sessions, or colonizing dispersers if they changedtheir home range and colonized the centers. We compared dispersers and residentswith respect to sex ratio, proportion of reproductively active individuals,body length and weight. In general, residents were larger than dispersersbut they did not differ with respect to reproductive activity and sex ratio.Differences were greater for females in the reproductive period and for malesin the nonreproductive period, suggesting that during reproductive periodsmaller females of lower competitive ability may disperse to obtain a territoryand reproduce, while male dispersal in the nonreproductive period would benon adaptive because the smaller male dispersers have low chance of survivalin an impoverished habitat with high rodent density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:We studied the characteristics of dispersing Akodon azarae inagroecosystems of central Argentina. The landscape of the study area consistsof cropfields surrounded by weedy margins, which provide good quality habitatfor A. azarae . We sampled six times between June 1991 and May 1993.We defined a central area (center) where all A. azarae were removed,while capture-mark-release trapping was conducted in the adjacent areas (laterals).Individuals were characterized as residents if they did not change their homerange between trapping sessions, or colonizing dispersers if they changedtheir home range and colonized the centers. We compared dispersers and residentswith respect to sex ratio, proportion of reproductively active individuals,body length and weight. In general, residents were larger than dispersersbut they did not differ with respect to reproductive activity and sex ratio.Differences were greater for females in the reproductive period and for malesin the nonreproductive period, suggesting that during reproductive periodsmaller females of lower competitive ability may disperse to obtain a territoryand reproduce, while male dispersal in the nonreproductive period would benon adaptive because the smaller male dispersers have low chance of survivalin an impoverished habitat with high rodent density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:01650521
DOI:10.1076/snfe.37.1.1.2110