Geographic and seasonal variability in feeding behaviour of a small herbivorous rodent

• Autorzy: Sassi P. L. , Borghi C. E. , Dacar M. A. , Bozinovic F.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Foraging strategies have traditionally been modelled as a result of food selection in response to one factor, as for instance resource availability, deterrent compounds or nutrients. Thus, a trade-off is assumed between plasticity (generalist strategy) and efficiency (specialist strategy). Nevertheless, several studies have demonstrated that animals cope behaviourally with food supply variation. For instance, desert-dwelling rodents partially compensate for nutritional bottlenecks through diet selection. The aim of our study was to test how foraging behaviour matches spatial and temporal variations in the trophic environment and how modelling hypotheses help us to understand the resultant foraging strategy. Our animal study model was the small cavy Microcavia australis, a widely distributed herbivorous rodent. Fieldwork was carried out in four places, in wet and dry seasons. We found significant differences in plant cover, plant diversity and niche breadth, and diet selection revealed a complex foraging strategy. M. australis shows a behavioural repertoire that exceeds single-criterion categories; therefore, we appeal to theoretical models that consider ecological and physiological perspectives. We classified the small cavy as a facultative specialist displaying a thoroughly opportunistic strategy based on the plasticity of the behavioural phenotype. We finally discuss the evolutionary relevance of our results and propose further investigation avenues.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

geographic variability; seasonal variability; feeding behaviour; small rodent; rodent; herbivorous rodent; diet selection; environmental heterogeneity

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Theriologica
• Rocznik: 2011
• Tom: 56
• Numer: 1
• Opis fizyczny: p.35-43,fig.,ref.

Twórcy

autor

Sassi P. L.

• Biodiversity Research Group, Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Aridas, CCT - Mendoza, CONICET, Av. Ruiz Leal s/n, CC 507, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina

autor

Borghi C. E.

• Biological Interactions in Deserts (INTERBIODES), Departamento de Biología y Museo de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de San Juan - CONICET, San Juan, Argentina

autor

Dacar M. A.

• Biodiversity Research Group, Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas, CCT - Mendoza, CONICET, Av. Ruiz Leal s/n, CC 507, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina

autor

Bozinovic F.

• Center for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity, Departamento de Ecología, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, P.O. Box 6513677, Santiago, Chile

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Identyfikatory

DOI

10.1007/s13364-010-0007-8