Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Factors affecting home range size and overlap in Calomys venustus (Muridae: Sigmodontinae) in Argentine agroecosystems

Faktoren, die Größe und Überlappung derWohngebiete von Calomys venustus (Muridae: Sigmodontinae) in argentinischen Agro-Ökosystemen beeinflussen

  • Original investigation
  • Published:
Mammalian Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, information concerning home range size and overlap of Calomys venustus (Thomas, 1894), in relation to sex, population size, and breeding periods is provided. The present study was carried out on a railway bank in southern Córdoba Province (Argentina), between October 1994 and September 1997, using the capture-mark-recapture method. Home range size in C. venustus depended on breeding period and population size, and was independent of sex. The degree of home range overlap was dependent on breeding and non-breeding periods and overlap type (intra-or intersexual), but was independent of population density. During the breeding period, females showed a small degree of intrasexual home range overlap. In general, male home ranges largely overlapped with females. The conclusion is that differences in home range size of C. venustus could be determined by season and population size. Moreover, the degree of inter- and intrasexual home range overlap during the breeding period suggested that males and females of C. venustus use space differently. Females did not share their home range with other females, while males fully shared it with both sexes, and male spacing is influenced by female distribution.

Zusammenfassung

In dieser Studie werden Ausdehnung und Überlappung der Wohngebiete von Calomys venustus (Thomas, 1894) untersucht in Beziehung zu den Variablen Geschlecht, Populationsdichte und während re-produktiver und nicht-reproduktiver Perioden. Die Datenerhebung erfolgte zwischen Oktober 1994 und September 1997 an Eisenbahndämmen im Süden der Provinz Córdoba, Argentinian mittels der Fang-Markierung-Neufang-Methode. Die Größe der Wohngebite von C. venustus war abhangig von Re-produktionsperiode und Populationsdichte, aber unabhängig vom Geschlecht. Der Grad der Überlappung der Wohngebite zeigte Abhangigkeiten von den Perioden und dem (intra- und intersexuellen) Überlappungstyp, war aber unabhängig von der Populationsdichte. Während der Reproduktionsperiode zeigten die Weibchen einen geringeren Grad von Überlappungen ihrer Wohngebiete. Im allgemeinen überlappten die Wohngebiete der männlichen Tiere deutlich diejenigen der weiblichen Tiere. Unsere Schlußfolgerung ist, daß sowohl Reproduktionsperiode als auch Größe der Population die Ausdehnung der Wohngebiete von C. venustus beeinflussen. Außerdem legt der Grad der inter- und intrasexuellen Überlappung während der Reproduktionszeit nahe, daß sowohl weibliche als auch männliche Indivi-duen ihre Wohngebiete auf unterschiedliche Weise nutzen: während die Weibchen das Gebiet nicht mit anderen Weibchen teilen, leben die Mannchen mit Individuen beider Geschlechter zusammen.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abramsky, Z.; Tracy, C. R. (1980): Relation between home range sizes and regulation of population size in Microtus ochrogaster. Oikos 34, 347–355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adler, G. M.; Wilson, M. L. (1987): Demography of a habitat generalist, the white-footed mouse, in a heterogeneous environment. Ecology 68, 1785–1796.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Batzli, G. O. (1968): Dispersion patterns of mice in California annual grassland. J. Mammalogy 49, 239–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batzli, G. O.; Henttonen, H. (1993): Home range and social organization of the singing vole (Microtus miurus). J. Mammalogy 74, 868–878.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bondrup-Nielsen, S. (1986): Analysis of spacing behaviour of females from a live-trapping study of Clethrionomys gapperi. Ann. Zool. Fenn. 23, 261–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Busch, M.; Kravetz, F. O. (1992): Competitive interactions among rodents (Akodon azarae, Calomys laucha, C. musculinus, and Oligoryzomys flavescens) in a two-habitat system. I. Spatial and numerical relationships. Mammalia 56, 45–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cabrera, A. (1953): Esquema fitogeográfico de la República Argentina. Revista Museo de la Plata, Botánica 8, 87–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castellarini, F. (1999): La alimentatión del roedor Calomys venustus en poblaciones dc Córdoba, Diss, thesis, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, España.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castellarini, F.; Agnelli, H.; Polop, J. J. (1998): Study on the diet and feeding pbl]References of Calomys venustus (Rodentia, Muridae). Mastozoología Neotropical 5, 5–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Desy, E. A.; Batzli, G. O.; Liu, J. (1989): Comparison of vole movements assessed by live trapping and radiotracking. J. Mammalogy 70, 652–656.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Villafañe, G.; Bonaventura, S. M. (1987): Ecological studies in crop fields of the endemic area of Argentine haemorrhagic fever. Calomys musculinus movements in relation to habitat and abundance. Mammalia 51, 233–248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Villafañce, G.; Bonaventura, S. M.; Bel-Locq, M. L.; Percich, R. E. (1988): Habitat selection, social structure, density and prédation in populations of Cricetine rodents in the pampa region of Argentina and the effects of agricultural practices on them. Mammalia 52, 339–369.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emlen, S. T.; Oring, L. W. (1977): Ecology, sexual selection, and the evolution of mating systems. Science 197, 215–223.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Erlinge, S.; Hoogenboom, I.; Agrell, I.; Nelson, I.; Sandell, M. (1990): Density-related home-range size and overlap in adult field voles (Microtus agrestis) in southern Sweden. J. Mammalogy 71, 597–603.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fauske, I.; Andreassen, H. P.; Ims, R. A. (1997): Spatial organization in a small population of the root vole Microtus oeconomus in a linear habitat. Acta Theriol. 42, 49–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaines, M.; Johnson, M. (1982): Home range size an population dynamics in the prairie vole Microtus ochrogaster. Oikos 39, 63–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaulin, S. I.; Fitzgerald, R. W. (1988): Home range size as a predictor of mating systems in Microtus. J. Mammalogy 69, 311–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Getz, L. L. (1961): Home ranges, territoriality, and movement of the meadow vole. J. Mammalogy 42, 24–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heske, E.J.; Ostfeld, R. S. (1990): Sexual dimorphism in size, relative size of testes, and mating systems in North American voles. J. Mammalogy 71, 510–519.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hlxon, M. (1980): Food production and competitor density as determinants of feeding territory size. Am. Nat. 115, 510–530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hubbs, A. H.; Boonstra, R. (1998): Effects of food and predators on the home range size of arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii). Can. J. Zool. 76, 592–596.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ims, R. A. (1987): Responses in spatial organization and behaviour to manipulations of the food resource in the vole Clethrionomys rufo-canus. J. Anim. Ecol. 56, 585–596.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ims, R. A. (1988a): The potential for sexual selection in males: effect of sex ratio and spatio-temporal distribution of receptive females. Evol. Ecol. 2, 338–352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ims, R. A. (1988b): Spatial clumping of sexually receptive females induces space sharing among male voles. Nature 335, 541–543.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, E. N. (1990): Effects of forage availability on home range and population density of Microtus pennsylvaniens. J. Mammalogy 71, 382–389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jennrich, R. I.; Turner, F. B. (1969): Measurement of noncircular home range. J. Theor. Biol. 22, 227–237.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kravetz, F. O.; Polop, J. J. (1983): Comunidades de roedores en agroecosistemas del Departa-mento Río Cuarto, Córdoba. Ecosur 10, 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krebs, C. J. (1966): Demographic changes in fluctuating populations of Microtus californiens. Ecol. Monogr. 36, 239–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindstedt, S. L.; Miller, B. L.; Buskirk, S. W. (1986): Home range, time and body size in mammals. Ecology 67, 413–418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loy, A.; Dupre, E.; Capanna, E. (1994): Territorial behavior in Talpa romana, a fossorial insectivore from south central Italy. J. Mammalogy 75, 529–535.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madison, D. M. (1978): Movement indicators of reproductive events among female meadow voles as revealed by radiotelemetry. J. Mammalogy 59, 835–843.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madison, D. M. (1980): Space use and social structure in meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 7, 65–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madison, D. M. (1985): Activity rhythms and spacing in biology of new world Microtus. In: Biology of New World Microtus. Ed. by R. H. Tamarin. Am. Soc. Mammal. Spec. Publ. 8, 373–413.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazurkiewicz, M. (1971): Shape, size and distribution of home ranges of Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber 1780). Acta Theriol. 16, 23–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mcshea, W. I.; Madison, D. M. (1992): Presaturation and saturation dispersal 15 years later: some theoretical considerations. In: Animal Dispersal, Small Mammals as a Model. Ed. By N. Ch. Stenseth and W. Z. Lidicker Jr. London: Chapman and Hall. Pp. 319–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Metzgar, L. H. (1971): Behavioral population regulation in the woodmouse, Peromyscus. Am. Midi. Nat. 86, 434–448.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mills, H.; Ellis, B. A.; Mckee, K. T.; Maizte-Gui, J. I.; Childs, J. E. (1991): Habitat associations and relative densities of rodent populations in cultivated areas of central Argentina. J. Mammalogy 72, 470–479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, J. (1995a): Determinants of male spacing behavior in microtines: an experimental manipulation of female spatial distribution and density. Beh. Ecol. Sociobiol. 37, 217–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, J. (1995b): Intrasexual competition and spacing behavior in male field voles, Microtus agrestis, under constant female density and spatial distribution. Oikos 73, 9–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ostfeld, R. S. (1985): Limiting resources and territoriality in microtine rodents. Am. Nat. 126, 1–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ostfeld, R. S. (1986): Territotiality and mating system of California voles. J. Anim. Ecol. 55, 691–706.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ostfeld, R. S. (1990): The ecology of territoriality in small mammals. Trends Ecol. Evol. 5, 411–415.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ostfeld, R. S.; Lidicker, W. Z., Jr.; Heske, J. (1985): The relationship between habitat heterogeneity, space use, and demography in a population of California voles. Oikos 45, 433–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polop, J. J. (1996): Análisis de la respuesta adaptativa del género Calomys. Diss, thesis, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Argentina.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polop, J. J.; Sabattini, M. S. (1993): Rodent abundance and distribution in habitats of Agroce-nosis in Argentina. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment 28, 39–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Priotto, J. W.; Polop, J. J. (1997): Space and time use in syntopic populations of Akodon azarae and Calomys venustus (Rodentia, Muridae). Z. Säugetierkunde 62, 30–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Priotto, J. W.; Steinmann, A. R. (1999): Factors affecting home range size and overlap in Akodon azarae (Muridae: Sigmodontinae) in natural pasture of Argentina. Acta Theriol. 44, 37–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ribble, D. O.; Stanley, S. (1998): Home range and social organization of syntopic Peromyscus boylii and P. truei. J. Mammalogy 79, 932–941.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sokal, R. R.; Rohlf, E. J. (1981): Biometry. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stickel, L. F. (1954): A comparison of certain methods of measuring ranges of small mammals. J. Mammalogy 35, 1–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swihart, R. K.; Slade, N. A. (1985): Influence of sampling interval on estimates of home range sizes. J. Wildl. Mgmt. 49, 1019–1025.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swihart, R.; Slade, N. A.; Bergstrom, B. J. (1988): Relating body size to the rate of home range use in mammals. Ecology 69, 393–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taitt, M. J. (1981): The effect of extra food on small rodent populations: I. Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus). J. Anm. Ecol. 50, 111–124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taitt, M. J.; Krebs, C. J. (1981): The effect of extra food on small rodent populations: II. Voles (Microtus townsendii). J. Anim. Ecol. 50, 125–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Horne, B. (1982): Niches of adult and juvenile deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) in serai stages of coniferous forest. Ecology 63, 992–1003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webster, A. B.; Brooks, R. J. (1981): Social behavior of Microtus pennsylvanicus in relation to seasonal changes in demography. J. Mammalogy 62, 738–751.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wollf, J. O. (1985): The effects of density, food, and interespecific interference on home range size in Peromyscus leucopus and Peromyscus maniculatus. Can. J. Zool. 63, 2657–2662.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nadonal de Río Cuarto, Agencia Postal N° 3, 5800, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina

    J. Priotto, Andrea Steinhann & J. Polop

Authors
  1. J. Priotto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andrea Steinhann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Polop
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Priotto.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Priotto, J., Steinhann, A. & Polop, J. Factors affecting home range size and overlap in Calomys venustus (Muridae: Sigmodontinae) in Argentine agroecosystems. Mamm Biol 67, 97–104 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1078/1616-5047-00014

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1078/1616-5047-00014

Keywords

Search

Navigation