Nest and Space Use in a Highland Population of the Southern Mountain Cavy (Microcavia Australis)

Ebensperger, Luis A.; Taraborelli, Paula Andrea; Giannoni, Stella M.; Hurtado, María José; León, Cecilia; Bozinovic, Francisco

doi:10.1644/05-mamm-a-407r2.1

Cited by 29 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…On the other hand, the relative size of the auditory bullae was demonstrated to have a clear association with environmental variation (in terms of vegetal cover and humidity) among caviomorphs (Hautier et al 2012;Álvarez et al 2013). In particular, caviomorphs with enlarged auditory bullae are adapted to semi-arid/arid environments (Ebensperger et al 2006(Ebensperger et al , 2008Traba et al 2010). Bullar hypertrophy is especially marked in desert-adapted octodontids such as Tympanoctomys and Pipanacoctomys, which are convergent with other desert-specialist rodents such as the North American heteromyid Dipodomys (Ojeda et al, 1999;Mares et al 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

First Approach to the Paleobiology of Extinct Prospaniomys (Rodentia, Hystricognathi, Octodontoidea) Through Head Muscle Reconstruction and the Study of Craniomandibular Shape Variation

Álvarez

Arnal

2015

J Mammal Evol

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†Prospaniomys is a basal octodontoid recorded in the early Miocene in Patagonia (Argentina; Colhuehuapian SALMA). Nearly complete cranial and mandibular remains known for this genus provide a unique opportunity to explore its paleobiology. For this, masticatory muscles were reconstructed and craniomandibular shape variation assessed. While such reconstruction indicates that most masticatory muscles would have presented moderate development, both the masseter lateralis and posterior muscles were poorly developed. In contrast, we found that the temporalis muscle was well developed, while conspicuous postorbital constriction, postorbital processes, and superior temporal lines revealed a substantial orbital portion of this muscle. According to geometric morphometric results, craniomandibular shape was interpreted as generalized. Features such as shortened palate, narrower bizygomatic width, orthodont incisors, enlarged incisive foramina, and a shallow jaw could be linked to epigean habits. The moderate development of auditory bullae in Prospaniomys suggests that it is unlikely that it may have lived in extreme arid environments. Additionally, based on its generalized dental morphology, an omnivorous or generalized herbivorous diet that may have included leaves, fruit, and potentially animal matter was inferred. By the early Miocene, Patagonia experienced the initial expansion stage of arid-adapted vegetation, with grasses present in low amounts and abundant forests. Generalized habits and soft and nonabrasive diet suggest that Prospaniomys was possibly associated with more closed environments. Morphology alone cannot be used as an environmental proxy, but it could undoubtedly contribute to the interpretations based on data provided by paleobotanical and geological frameworks in studies on the evolution of environments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

First Approach to the Paleobiology of Extinct Prospaniomys (Rodentia, Hystricognathi, Octodontoidea) Through Head Muscle Reconstruction and the Study of Craniomandibular Shape Variation

Álvarez

Arnal

2015

J Mammal Evol

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“…Each group is associated with a burrow and the groups are permanent, not transitory (Taraborelli 2006). The fact that cavies congregate underground during the night and maintain stable associations confirms that this species nests communally and suggests that nesting associations represent distinct social units (Ebensperger et al 2006). Groups of M. australis are not organized according to hierarchies (pers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…At El Leoncito, records of intermittent locomotion were higher than at Ñacuñán. This could be due to the fact that open areas at El Leoncito are wider (80% approximately), and to the cavies moving from one burrow to another and in search for food among three to four patches of Larrea nitida, whereas cavies at Ñacuñán restricted their activity to only one burrow under a complex plant structure (tree, shrub, and herb layers; Ebensperger et al 2006;Taraborelli 2006). At El Leoncito, cavies travel longer distances than they do at Ñacuñán; for example, at El Leoncito, distances traveled are 10-100 m, whereas at Ñacuñán they are 6-17 m (Taraborelli 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gentian violet was used to paint the cavies; this substance is not toxic and is used to cure fungi. Neither tagging nor painting has a negative effect for animal welfare, as corroborated by Hoogland (1981), Cassini (1989), Branch (1993), Meserve et al (1993), Hoogland (1995), Ebensperger and Hurtado (2005), and Ebensperger et al (2006).…”

Section: Records Of Predatorsmentioning

confidence: 95%

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Influence of predation risk and plant structure on vigilance and intermittent locomotion in Microcavia australis (Rodentia, Caviidae)

et al. 2010

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The aim of this study was to analyze and compare vigilance behavior and intermittent locomotion at two sites (El Leoncito and Ñacuñán, Argentina) that differ in predation risk, plant structure, and plant resource availability. Subjects were lesser cavies (Microcavia australis), a social species that is semi-fossorial, diurnal, and native to South America. Continuous focal sampling was conducted during the day, at times of food shortage, food abundance, and reproduction from 2003 to 2005. The proportion of time spent vigilance was significantly higher at Ñacuñán, where vigilance peaked at midday and reached a minimum in the evening. This midday peak of vigilance at Ñacuñán was associated with a midday peak of danger from raptors as indicated by a raptor activity peak at that time. In contrast, both vigilance and predator activity at El Leoncito were constant through the day. Records of intermittent locomotion and number and duration of pauses in locomotion were significantly higher at El Leoncito, a difference that may have been due to the need for greater vigilance while moving across areas of less protective cover at this site.

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“…Mean annual rainfall is 329.4 mm, concentrated in the summer months from November through March; nearly 50% of rains occur in this season (Cabrera 1976;Estrella et al 2001). The mesquite community is the habitat preferred by M. australis, because of its structural complexity and the food supply it provides (Campos et al 2001), total plant cover is 54.3% (Taraborelli 2006). This community is composed of three plant layers: the tree layer dominated by Prosopis flexuosa, the shrub layer, and the herbaceous layer (Roig 1971).…”

Section: Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing composition of social groups, mating system and social behaviour in two populations of Microcavia australis

Taraborelli

Moreno

2009

Mammalian Biology

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Microcavia australis is a semifossorial, diurnal and social rodent, native to South America. The objective was to determine and compare the composition of social groups, mating system and social behaviours of cavies in two populations of the Monte (El Leoncito and Ñ acun˜a´n). The two sites differ in climate conditions and plant resource availability. Trapping was carried out on 7-11 consecutive days at three times of the year (food abundance, food shortage, reproduction), from 2003 to 2005. Individuals were identified with metal ear tags. Continuous focal samplings were performed during 4 days. The female/male proportion per group was 1/1 at both sites which, together with the absence of sexual dimorphism in body size (0.94), the accomplishment of oestrus synchronization, the large size of scrotal testes during the reproductive season and sexual patterns, suggests a promiscuous mating system. Social groups were larger and with more adults at the site with more severe climate conditions (El Leoncito). The index of association among individuals was higher at El Leoncito. Cavies could use seismic communication to avoid encounters ending in fights at El Leoncito, and the agonistic behaviour was significantly lower in this population. r

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Nest and Space Use in a Highland Population of the Southern Mountain Cavy (Microcavia Australis)

Cited by 29 publications

References 26 publications

First Approach to the Paleobiology of Extinct Prospaniomys (Rodentia, Hystricognathi, Octodontoidea) Through Head Muscle Reconstruction and the Study of Craniomandibular Shape Variation

First Approach to the Paleobiology of Extinct Prospaniomys (Rodentia, Hystricognathi, Octodontoidea) Through Head Muscle Reconstruction and the Study of Craniomandibular Shape Variation

Influence of predation risk and plant structure on vigilance and intermittent locomotion in Microcavia australis (Rodentia, Caviidae)

Comparing composition of social groups, mating system and social behaviour in two populations of Microcavia australis

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