Abstract

OWEN, Robert D. Ecology of small terrestrial mammals in an isolated Cerrado patch, eastern Paraguay: communities, species, and effects of enso, precipitation, and fire. Mastozool. neotrop. [online]. 2013, vol.20, n.1, pp.97-112. ISSN 0327-9383.

The Cerrado extends as islands or patches into the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest (UPAF) of Brazil and Paraguay. This study evaluates the temporal dynamics of a marginal terrestrial small-mammal community in an isolated Cerrado patch within the UPAF, at the southwestern distributional limit of the Cerrado and near the western limit of the UPAF in eastern Paraguay. Because the faunal members of marginal communities are living near the limits of their capabilities in terms of their abiotic and biotic environment, the communities in such areas are likely to be a mixture of Cerrado and UPAF species, sensitive to extrinsic variables such as climate change and anthropogenic changes in land use. In this 23-month study, temporal dynamics of a terrestrial small-mammal community were evaluated with respect to El Niño/Southern Oscillation, precipitation, and fre. Densities of some species were quite variable. Generally, responses to precipitation paterns became evident only several months after burning, or (on the frequently-burned grid) were not observed. Some species more characteristic of forest or second-growth vegetation were encountered only seasonally or sporadically. Taken together, these observations provide strong support for the importance of long-term population studies in marginal or transitional locations, where two or more ecoregions are represented, and the fauna characteristic of each ecoregion will be sensitive to fluctuations in its biotic and abiotic environment.

Keywords : Cricetidae; Didelphidae; Echimyidae; Fire; ENSO; Precipitation.

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