Microhabitat selection by Octomys mimax (Rodentia: Octodontidae) in the Monte Desert is affected by attributes and thermal properties of crevices

The viscacha rat (Octomys mimax; Rodentia, Octodontidae) belongs to a monotypic genus endemic to western Argentina and inhabits lowland deserts with abundant rocks and ravines. Our objectives were 1) to determine the attributes of crevices (depth, height, width, entrance orientation, and rock color)...

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Autores principales:	CAMPOS,VALERIA E, ANDINO,NATALIA, CAPPA,FLAVIO M, REUS,MARÍA L, GIANNONI,STELLA M
Lenguaje:	English
Publicado:	Sociedad de Biología de Chile 2013
Materias:	desert rock dwelling mammal suitable habitat viscacha rat
Acceso en línea:	http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0716-078X2013000300008
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spelling	oai:scielo:S0716-078X20130003000082013-11-11Microhabitat selection by Octomys mimax (Rodentia: Octodontidae) in the Monte Desert is affected by attributes and thermal properties of crevicesCAMPOS,VALERIA EANDINO,NATALIACAPPA,FLAVIO MREUS,MARÍA LGIANNONI,STELLA M desert rock dwelling mammal suitable habitat viscacha rat The viscacha rat (Octomys mimax; Rodentia, Octodontidae) belongs to a monotypic genus endemic to western Argentina and inhabits lowland deserts with abundant rocks and ravines. Our objectives were 1) to determine the attributes of crevices (depth, height, width, entrance orientation, and rock color) that influence selection by the viscacha rat; 2) to compare the range and variance of temperature inside and outside crevices, at the soil surface, at the rock surface and in the air; and 3) to evaluate if there is a thermal gradient inside crevices, comparing range and variance of temperature at the soil surface at different depths (0, 30 and 50 cm). The viscacha rat did not use microhabitats in proportion to availability; the species selected deep and narrow crevices with restricted access that might be used as refuge from predation and extreme climate conditions. The temperature at the soil surface and at the rock surface inside crevices was more stable (smaller ranges and variances) than the corresponding external temperatures in summer and winter. The range and variance of temperature in the air were different only in summer. Moreover, in summer the range and variance at the soil surface inside crevices were more stable with increasing depth. In winter, only temperature range showed a gradient. The insulating effect of rocks might benefit the viscacha rat by providing a thermally stable environment, especially in summer. The present study provides quantitative evidence about the thermal behavior of rock crevices, which contributes with the traditional hypothesis proposed to explain the benefits of living in rock crevices.info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessSociedad de Biología de ChileRevista chilena de historia natural v.86 n.3 20132013-09-01text/htmlhttp://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0716-078X2013000300008en10.4067/S0716-078X2013000300008
institution	Scielo Chile
collection	Scielo Chile
language	English
topic	desert rock dwelling mammal suitable habitat viscacha rat
spellingShingle	desert rock dwelling mammal suitable habitat viscacha rat CAMPOS,VALERIA E ANDINO,NATALIA CAPPA,FLAVIO M REUS,MARÍA L GIANNONI,STELLA M Microhabitat selection by Octomys mimax (Rodentia: Octodontidae) in the Monte Desert is affected by attributes and thermal properties of crevices
description	The viscacha rat (Octomys mimax; Rodentia, Octodontidae) belongs to a monotypic genus endemic to western Argentina and inhabits lowland deserts with abundant rocks and ravines. Our objectives were 1) to determine the attributes of crevices (depth, height, width, entrance orientation, and rock color) that influence selection by the viscacha rat; 2) to compare the range and variance of temperature inside and outside crevices, at the soil surface, at the rock surface and in the air; and 3) to evaluate if there is a thermal gradient inside crevices, comparing range and variance of temperature at the soil surface at different depths (0, 30 and 50 cm). The viscacha rat did not use microhabitats in proportion to availability; the species selected deep and narrow crevices with restricted access that might be used as refuge from predation and extreme climate conditions. The temperature at the soil surface and at the rock surface inside crevices was more stable (smaller ranges and variances) than the corresponding external temperatures in summer and winter. The range and variance of temperature in the air were different only in summer. Moreover, in summer the range and variance at the soil surface inside crevices were more stable with increasing depth. In winter, only temperature range showed a gradient. The insulating effect of rocks might benefit the viscacha rat by providing a thermally stable environment, especially in summer. The present study provides quantitative evidence about the thermal behavior of rock crevices, which contributes with the traditional hypothesis proposed to explain the benefits of living in rock crevices.
author	CAMPOS,VALERIA E ANDINO,NATALIA CAPPA,FLAVIO M REUS,MARÍA L GIANNONI,STELLA M
author_facet	CAMPOS,VALERIA E ANDINO,NATALIA CAPPA,FLAVIO M REUS,MARÍA L GIANNONI,STELLA M
author_sort	CAMPOS,VALERIA E
title	Microhabitat selection by Octomys mimax (Rodentia: Octodontidae) in the Monte Desert is affected by attributes and thermal properties of crevices
title_short	Microhabitat selection by Octomys mimax (Rodentia: Octodontidae) in the Monte Desert is affected by attributes and thermal properties of crevices
title_full	Microhabitat selection by Octomys mimax (Rodentia: Octodontidae) in the Monte Desert is affected by attributes and thermal properties of crevices
title_fullStr	Microhabitat selection by Octomys mimax (Rodentia: Octodontidae) in the Monte Desert is affected by attributes and thermal properties of crevices
title_full_unstemmed	Microhabitat selection by Octomys mimax (Rodentia: Octodontidae) in the Monte Desert is affected by attributes and thermal properties of crevices
title_sort	microhabitat selection by octomys mimax (rodentia: octodontidae) in the monte desert is affected by attributes and thermal properties of crevices
publisher	Sociedad de Biología de Chile
publishDate	2013
url	http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0716-078X2013000300008
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Microhabitat selection by Octomys mimax (Rodentia: Octodontidae) in the Monte Desert is affected by attributes and thermal properties of crevices

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