Effects of Food Supplementation on Rodents in Winter

Cittadino, Emilio A.; Carli, Pedro De; Busch, María; Kravetz, Fernando O.

doi:10.2307/1382566

Cited by 40 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Prior to carrying out the experiments, we removed eight Oligoryzomys flavescens, one Calomys musculinus and one Cavia aperea in the autumn and two Oligoryzomys flavescens and two Calomys musculinus in the spring. The low abundance of other species in the area and the short time between rodent sampling and GUD measurements as well as the competitive dominance of A. azarae (Busch and Kravetz 1992;Cittadino et al 1994) made us confident that only the target species consumed seeds. In some cases, insects were found stuck to the adhesive band that surrounded the opening of the seed bottles.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Foraging bottles were 500 ml plastic bottles with a single 3 to 4 cm opening that was covered by an adhesive tape to prevent access by ants and other insects. Foraging was assessed by the consumption of unhusked millet seeds because previous experiments of food addition confirmed that although A. azarae is omnivorous, it also exploits rich seed patches when available (Cittadino et al 1994). We mixed the millet seeds with an artificial substrate in order to cause a diminishing return; we did not use the natural substrate of the study area because this would have made it difficult to recover the remaining seeds and, therefore, to assess consumption.…”

Section: Measurement Of Gudsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Foraging efficiency of Akodon azarae under different plant cover and resource levels

Fraschina

Knight

Busch

2009

J Ethol

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The goal of this work was to determine how the foraging behaviour of Akodon azarae changes with predation risk and food availability in cropfield borders of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Our hypotheses were that A. azarae has a greater foraging efficiency in safe areas than in risky ones and that the foraging behaviour of A. azarae also depends on the level of resources. We measured giving-up densities (GUDs) and food consumption twice a year in artificial foraging patches (bottles with known amounts of millet seed) in covered and open areas and with two different levels of seed abundance. In both periods, GUDs were lower in the covered areas than in the open ones independently of food level. Consumption increased with food level in covered areas but not in open areas. Based on these results, we conclude that A. azarae appears to maximize its consumption depending on predation risk.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Measurement Of Gudsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foraging efficiency of Akodon azarae under different plant cover and resource levels

Fraschina

Knight

Busch

2009

J Ethol

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“…This phenomenon has been observed in other sigmodontine species in the pampean region (Hodara et al 2000, Kravetz and de VillafaZe 1981, Mills et al 1992, Zuleta et al 1988). Busch et al (1997) and Cittadino et al (1994Cittadino et al ( , 1998 argue that there is more evidence that annual declination is caused by an interaction of climatic factors and habitat quality. Climatic factors may act directly or through their effects on the habitat quality, with intra-and inter--specific density effects, influence survival, dispersion and habitat selection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive characteristics of free-livingCalomys venustus (Rodentia, Muridae)

2005

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“…The selection of A. azarae for this type of microhabitats may have great adaptive significance, considering that, in winter, food availability is a limiting factor (Cittadino et al 1994) and since frosts and low temperatures induce great rodent mortality (Crespo 1944, Dalby andHeath 1976).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variations in microhabitat use and feeding habits of the pampas mouse Akodon azarae in agroecosystem of central Argentina

Bilenca¹,

Kravetz²

1998

Acta Theriol.

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. 1998. Seasonal variations in microhabitat use and feeding habits of the pampas mouse Akodon azarae in agroecosystems of central We studied microhabitat use and food habits of the pampas mouse Akodon azarae (Fischer, 1829), in agroecosystems of central Argentina. In summer (breeding season), A. azarae inhabited both cropfields and their weedy borders. Sexually active females were caught at microhabitats with 31% more green cover than inactive ones. The percentage of invertebrates in the stomach contents of females was 104% greater than in males. In winter (non-breeding season), individuals were restricted to the borders, selecting sites with high levels of forbs and green cover. There were no significant differences between the sexes, either in microhabitat use or in food habits. We propose that reproduction of females is influenced by green cover, and that a decrease of this resource may reduce breeding activity of females in the borders after most plants enter senescence. Females would feed on insects as a source of proteins, which are required for reproduction. In winter, when the population is sexually inactive, individuals of both sexes have similar requirements and occupy the most suitable sites available within a low-quality habitat. We conclude that seasonal variations in microhabitat use and food habits of A. azarae are mainly influenced by changes in resource availability and reproductive status of individuals.

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Effects of Food Supplementation on Rodents in Winter

Cited by 40 publications

References 12 publications

Foraging efficiency of Akodon azarae under different plant cover and resource levels

Foraging efficiency of Akodon azarae under different plant cover and resource levels

Reproductive characteristics of free-livingCalomys venustus (Rodentia, Muridae)

Seasonal variations in microhabitat use and feeding habits of the pampas mouse Akodon azarae in agroecosystem of central Argentina

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