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45763089029.Pdf Mastozoología Neotropical ISSN: 0327-9383 ISSN: 1666-0536 [email protected] Sociedad Argentina para el Estudio de los Mamíferos Argentina Frugone, María José; Correa, Loreto A; Sobrero, Raúl ACTIVITY AND GROUP-LIVING IN THE PORTER’S ROCK RATS, Aconaemys porteri Mastozoología Neotropical, vol. 26, núm. 2, 2019, Julio-, pp. 487-492 Sociedad Argentina para el Estudio de los Mamíferos Tucumán, Argentina Disponible en: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=45763089029 Cómo citar el artículo Número completo Sistema de Información Científica Redalyc Más información del artículo Red de Revistas Científicas de América Latina y el Caribe, España y Portugal Página de la revista en redalyc.org Proyecto académico sin fines de lucro, desarrollado bajo la iniciativa de acceso abierto Mastozoología Neotropical, 26(2):487-492 Mendoza, 2019 Copyright © SAREM, 2019 Versión on-line ISSN 1666-0536 hp://www.sarem.org.ar hps://doi.org/10.31687/saremMN.19.26.2.0.05 hp://www.sbmz.org Nota ACTIVITY AND GROUP-LIVING IN THE PORTER’S ROCK RATS, Aconaemys porteri María José Frugone1, Loreto A. Correa2,3 and Raúl Sobrero4 1Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. 2Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile. 3Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Ponticia Universidad Católica de Chile. 4Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICiVet-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL) / Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientícas y Técnicas (CONICET), Esperanza, Argentina. [Correspondence: Raúl Sobrero <[email protected]>] ABSTRACT. We provide the rst systematic data on behavior and ecology of Aconaemys porteri. We used telemetry to monitor patterns of activity, resting locations, and range areas. Rock rat movements were statistically similar during nighttime and daytime, implying no clear diurnal or nocturnal activity. Animals used from 2 to 9 putative resting locations, but one was used more frequently. Rock rats showed relatively smaller range areas and low-to-moderate spatial overlap with neighbors, compared to other rodent species. These results indicate that A. porteri exhibit an intermediate level of sociality, compared to other octodontids. RESUMEN. Patrón de actividad y comportamiento social de Aconaemys porteri. Proporcionamos los primeros datos obtenidos de manera sistematizada sobre el comportamiento y la ecología de Aconaemys porteri. Utilizamos telemetría para monitorear los patrones de actividad, sitios de descanso o refugios, y ámbitos de hogar. Los movimientos de A. porteri tanto para las horas de oscuridad como de luz fueron estadísticamente similares, sugiriendo un patrón de actividad no estrictamente diurno o nocturno. Los animales utilizaron desde 2 hasta 9 sitios de descanso siendo uno de ellos utilizado en mayor frecuencia. Aconaemys porteri exhibió ámbitos de hogar relativamente pequeños y escaso a moderado solapamiento espacial entre individuos. Estos resultados sugieren que A. porteri presenta un nivel de sociabilidad intermedio, en comparación con otros octodóntidos. Key words: activity patterns, group-living, home range, Octodontidae. Palabras clave: ámbito de hogar, patrón de actividad, Octodontidae, vida en grupo. Among caviomorph rodents, social organization Thus, caviomorphs oer unique opportunities to ranges from solitary living to social forms, in which examine factors associated with variation in social individuals interact frequently, overlap their range organization across and within species (e.g. Maher & areas, and share resting locations (e.g. Ebensperger Burger 2011). Within caviomorphs, the octodontids et al. 2004; Ebensperger & Hayes 2008). These ro- (Octodontidae) comprises 16 extant species grouped dents include species that dier morphologically and in six living genera with surface-dwelling (Octomys), physiologically and use a great diversity of habitats fossorial (Octodontomys, Octodon, Tympanoctomys), (Verzi et al. 2015) which seems to covary with group- completely subterranean (Spalacopus) and semisub- living (Lacey & Ebensperger 2007). terranean (Aconaemys) habits (Ojeda et al. 1996; Gallardo et al. 2007; Lessa et al. 2008). Recibido 27 de julio 2018. Aceptado 14 diciembre 2018. Editor asociado: I. Tomasco 488 Mastozoología Neotropical, 26(2):487-492 Mendoza, 2019 M. J. Frugone et al. hp://www.sarem.org.ar – hp://www.sbmz.org Aconaemys or rock rats used open areas and the Fundo San Pablo de Tregua (39°35’S, 72°05’W), forests, on both eastern and western slopes of the Panguipulli, Chile. Andes (Pearson 1984; Gallardo & Mondaca 2002). San Pablo de Tregua is characterized by a dry and Three species are currently recognized: A. fus- short summer where mean annual precipitation is cus, A. sagei, and A. porteri (Gallardo & Mondaca around 5000 mm, and ambient temperature ranges 2002). Aconaemys fuscus inhabits highland forests from 5°C to 20°C (Alvarez & Lara 2008; Guevara of Araucaria araucana (Araucariaceae) and sandy et al. 2015). The site consisted of Valdivian rain- areas (Muñoz-Pedreros 2000), while A. sagei inhabits forest where dominant tree species were coigüe ungrazed bunchgrass and Nothofagus forest with (Nothofagus dombeyi), raulí (N. alpina), and tepa bamboo cover (Pearson 1984). Aconaemys porteri (Laureliopsis philippiana) (Schlegel & Donoso 2008). is distributed from Volcán Villarrica to Puyehue Animals were captured using a combination of 172 in Chile, and from both Parque Nacional Lanín (14 x 14 x 40-cm) Tomahawk (model 201; Tomahawk and Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi in Argentina Live Trap Company, Hazelhurst, Wisconsin) and (Pearson 1984; 1995; Gallardo & Reise 1992; Gallardo leg-hold traps during 8 days in January, 2011. & Mondaca 2002). In these areas, Porter’s rock Qualitatively, putative nest sites used by A. porteri rats inhabit dense bamboo and southern beech rain- are structurally similar to burrows and resting lo- forests (Pearson 1983; 1984; Gallardo & Reise 1992). cations of O. degus (Fulk 1976; Lessa et al. 2008), consisting mainly of oblique tunnels connecting the Evaluating the extent of the social behavior of surface to the nest, with several branches and active Aconaemys remains critical to determine whether openings (4-5) associated to patches of perennial ecological conditions and species-specic attributes bamboo (Chusquea quila), covering part of the bur- drove the evolution of group living in the octodon- row system. We dened rats burrow as areas of tids. A recent comparative analysis suggested that 1.5 m2 covered by vegetation, in which we found social behavior in caviomorphs was gained and lost signs of A. porteri presence (i.e., feces) and where repeatedly, perhaps originating from an ancestral radiocollared individuals were found during trap- species that was socially exible, and where the ping and telemetry periods. Ground mounds were loss of group-living has been associated to the use sometimes found outside openings and fresh feces of habitats with high plant cover (Sobrero et al. in burrows openings allow us to determine if each 2014a). Moreover, robust knowledge about multiple burrow system was active. ecological factors (distribution of resources such as Moreover, in two occasions rats’ vocalizations food, predation risk, and soil conditions associated were listened (but not recorded and analyzed) during with digging burrows or nesting sites) surely will trapping. We placed traps near burrow openings contribute to build a theory of sociobiology that and inside patches with high bamboo cover and is closer and more consistent with the diversity of baited them with rolled oats, cereals and sunower mammalian social behavior (Tang-Martínez 2003; seeds. Traps were opened 08:00h and closed 00:00h Hayes et al. 2007). Taken together, establishing and checked every hour. During each capture, we how group-living varies across species is critical recorded sex, body mass and reproductive status, and for comparative studies to examine the origin and each animal was marked with an ear tag (Monel 1005- the adaptive value of this behavior (Blumstein & 1; National Band and Tag Co., Newport, Ky., USA). Armitage 1998; Ebensperger 2001; Ebensperger & Low number of rats represents the species at a nor- Blumstein 2006). The scarce available and anecdotal mal density, based on knowledge about population evidence suggests that Porter’s rock rats lives in ecology of other caviomorph rodents (e.g. Cassini small groups in communal burrow systems and both 1991; Ebensperger et al. 2008). All adult-sized individ- diurnal and nocturnal activity has been recorded uals (N = 5) were tted with a radiocollar weighing (Pearson 1983; Verzi et al. 2015). Also, in captivity, in- 7–9 g (BR radiocollars; AVM Instrument Co., Colfax, dividuals displayed a high tolerance for conspecics California) with unique pulse frequencies. Weight of (Verzi et al. 2015); however it has not been tested radio-collars represented about 4–5% of body adult in natural populations and laboratory conditions weight (e.g. Ebensperger et al. 2008). At the end of can modify behavior of captive individuals (Calisi & our study all radiocollared animals were recaptured Bentley 2009). and radiocollars were removed (Ebensperger et al. Our aim in this research note is to report data 2004; 2012). of the activity patterns and social behavior of free- During 5 days and nights it was performed hom- living A. porteri. The study site was located
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