Bimodal nocturnal activity and age-specific burrow entrance use in a social fossorial rodent: implications for conservation
Research Square (Research Square),
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: April 3, 2025
Abstract
Understanding
the
behavioural
patterns
of
fossorial
and
colonial
rodents
is
crucial
for
effective
conservation
management
strategies,
particularly
in
face
population
declines
local
extinctions.
Translocation
projects
are
increasingly
used
to
restore
populations
protected
areas
promote
ecological
restorations,
yet
limited
knowledge
species-specific
behaviours
may
compromise
their
success.
In
this
study,
we
focused
on
plains
vizcacha
(
Lagostomus
maximus),
a
highly
social
rodent
native
South
America,
currently
facing
such
challenges.
We
characterized
its
repertoire,
examined
activity
burrow
entrance
use,
considering
time
day,
age
differences,
characteristics.
found
previously
undocumented
bimodal
nocturnal
pattern,
with
peaks
between
22:30–00:00
3:00–6:00,
which
be
linked
thermoregulation
predator
avoidance.
The
different
classes
exhibited
distinct
at
entrances.
While
adults
all
available
entrances,
juveniles
young
individuals
preferred
those
without
tree
cover,
likely
reducing
aerial
predation
risk
while
facilitating
access
foraging
resources.
These
findings
provide
key
insights
efforts,
emphasizing
need
optimize
capture
times
design
artificial
systems
that
account
age-specific
spatial
use
avoidance
strategies
translocation
programs.
Language: Английский
Setting large- and medium-sized mammal restoration goals in a last mountain Chaco remnant from central Argentina
Ecological Processes,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
12(1)
Published: April 26, 2023
Abstract
Background
Setting
large-
and
medium-sized
wild
mammal
(≥
2
kg)
restoration
goals
is
important
due
to
their
role
as
ecosystem
engineers
generalized
numeric
reductions.
However,
determining
very
challenging
difficulties
in
obtaining
data
on
current
density
unclear
information
what
values
should
be
used
a
reference.
Here
we
chose
154
ha
conservation
area
within
one
of
the
last
remnants
mountainous
Chaco
from
central
Argentina.
We
suspected
that
extensive
unreported
defaunation
had
occurred
past
human
pressure
introduction
non-native
mammals.
To
conduct
analyses,
simplified
technique
integrates
methods
rangeland
ecological
sciences.
Results
Eight
native
species
including
only
herbivore
species,
four
three
were
detected
during
6113
camera
trap
days.
known
cattle
densities
estimated
by
droppings
direct
counts,
together
with
relative
abundance
indexes
obtained
photos
calculate
other
correcting
for
size.
Densities
least
most
abundant
0.2
1.33
individuals
km
−2
,
respectively;
0.03
5.00
respectively.
Native
represented
0.8%
99.2%,
respectively,
biomass
estimates.
Reference
biomass,
net
primary
productivity,
68
times
higher
than
study
(3179
vs.
46.5
kg
).
Conclusions
There
an
urgent
need
increase
mammals,
special
emphasis
richness,
while
numbers
must
reduced.
As
are
widespread
large
portions
globe
there
lot
experience
estimating
abundances,
ratio
method
extrapolating
mammals
could
facilitate
small
defaunated
areas,
where
traditional
not
feasible
when
target
get
low.
Language: Английский
From Pest to Vulnerable Species: Combining Ecological and Behavioural Knowledge for the Conservation and Management of Lagostomus maximus
Published: Jan. 1, 2024
Despite
being
a
native
herbivore,
in
1905,
the
plains
vizcacha
was
declared
plague
for
agriculture
by
Argentinean
government.
Since
then,
several
eradication
programmes
have
been
conducted,
leading
to
local
extinction
events
and
considerable
decrease
vizcacha's
abundance
throughout
its
historical
distribution
range.
Along
with
waning
of
vizcacha,
role
as
an
ecosystem
engineer
also
disappeared.
Currently,
efforts
are
made
articulate
development
management
conservation
projects
this
gregarious
burrowing
mammal.
In
chapter,
we
combine
known
information
about
species
our
experimental
results
field
experience.
Together,
these
elements
allowed
us
develop
successful
translocation
protocol
potential
adaptation
other
fossorial
mammals.
The
aim
chapter
is
provide
practical
guide
managing
populations
based
on
their
behavioural
needs.
Language: Английский
Control mecánico en arbustos exóticos del género Pyracantha bajo tres frecuencias de corte
Ecología Austral,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
33(3), P. 950 - 961
Published: Dec. 11, 2023
El
control
mecánico
se
utiliza
ampliamente
para
reducir
la
invasión
de
arbustos
exóticos;
no
obstante,
en
especies
que
rebrotan,
el
esfuerzo
debe
mantenerse
hasta
rebrote
sea
prácticamente
nulo.
Un
régimen
cortes
frecuentes
implica
un
concentrado
menos
tiempo,
pero
debería
debilitar
a
planta
más
rápidamente
y
podría
redundar
menor
largo
plazo.
En
este
contexto,
nos
propusimos
determinar
frecuencia
óptima.
las
sierras
Córdoba,
Argentina,
seleccionamos
192
Pyracantha
angustifolia
P.
aff.
atalantioides,
medimos
sus
tamaños,
los
cortamos
base,
aplicamos
tres
frecuencias
corte
del
(anual,
bienal
al
año
4)
registramos
todos
tiempos
corte.
Al
5,
supervivencia
fue
36,
83
91%
cortados
anual,
4,
respectivamente.
La
altura
promedio
precorte
323±13
cm,
año,
medía
casi
mitad
tratamientos.
tratamiento
anuales,
cada
vez
menor.
—en
años
2
4—,
alcanzó
84
88%
original,
llegó
una
351±13
superando
20
cm
su
precorte.
número
frutos
anual
0
33
frutos.arbusto-1.año-1,
respectivamente,
subió
565±85
frutos.arbusto-1.año-1
desde
1
4.
único
con
reducción
sostenida
tiempo
anual.
Concluimos
contemplar
estrategia
frecuentes.
Plains Vizcacha Endoparasites: An Exploration of Diversity, Health and Ecology
Published: Jan. 1, 2024
Parasites
are
an
integral
part
of
all
ecosystems
and
have
gained
wide
acceptance
as
biological
tags
since
they
can
provide
important
information
about
their
hosts,
including
biology,
diet,
feeding
behaviour,
population
structure,
movements,
geographical
ranges
phylogenies.
The
plains
vizcacha
is
a
good
model
for
studies
on
parasites
it
has
particular
behaviour
(gregarious,
coprophagic
allogrooming
habits),
distribution
occurring
in
diverse
ecoregions,
economic
importance
causing
damage
the
fields
having
meat
consumption
sanitary
interest
potential
host
zoonotic
or
enzootic
parasites.
Different
populations
this
rodent
been
studied
from
economic,
ecological
aspects
Argentina;
however,
diversity
implications
human
animal
health
very
scarce.
This
chapter
aims
to
explore
available
endoparasites
considering
diversity,
aspects,
data
environment.
In
chapter,
we
present
following
five
sections:
(1)—Diversity
Parasitic
Species,
Geographical
Records
Ecological
Data;
(2)—Animal
Human
Health
Considerations;
(3)—Structure
Populations
Communities;
(4)—Potential
Use
Species
Biotags;
(5)—Conclusions.
Language: Английский
Fossil Record of Lagostomus: A 10 Million Years Story
Published: Jan. 1, 2024
Despite
being
represented
by
a
single
extant
species,
Lagostomus
maximus,
the
fossil
record
of
genus
is
extremely
rich
and
oldest
all
living
caviomorph
rodents.
It
was
recognized
in
Chasicoan
Stage/Age
(Late
Miocene)
Argentina,
with
younger
records
Bolivia,
Uruguay,
Brazil.
Many
extinct
species
were
described
late
nineteenth
to
early
twentieth
centuries,
most
them
based
on
fragmentary
remains.
Due
fossorial
habits
vizcachas,
they
are
very
frequent
Cenozoic
continental
associations,
but
their
remains
not
frequently
identified
specific
level.
Recent
revisions
have
synonymized
many
named
numerous
remains,
revealing
biostratigraphic
value.
In
this
chapter,
revised,
remarks
its
biostratigraphy
biogeography.
Language: Английский
Two Hundred Years of Studies on Plains Vizcachas
Published: Jan. 1, 2024
The
plains
vizcacha,
Lagostomus
maximus,
is
a
caviomorph
rodent
native
to
southern
South
America,
with
gregarious
and
burrowing
habits
marked
sexual
dimorphism.
It
was
the
subject
of
myths
legends
peoples
"Criollos"
(early
inhabitants
Argentina
after
Spanish
conquest);
it
also
hunted
for
its
meat
skin
considered
pest
agriculture.
has
been
interest
naturalists
more
than
200
years,
some
controversy
about
taxonomic
identity
during
most
nineteenth
century.
From
late
century
middle
twentieth
century,
there
were
many
studies
vizcachas
distribution,
behavior,
external
anatomy.
In
significant
advances
in
knowledge
reproductive
system.
increase
on
vizcacha
recent
times,
regarding
conservation,
population
genetics,
biology,
zooarcheology,
paleontology,
highlighted
need
an
update
maximus.
Language: Английский