Phyllotis xanthopygus

Kramer, Kristin M.; Monjeau, J. A.; Birney, Elmer C.; Sikes, Robert S.

doi:10.2307/3504375

Cited by 33 publications

(32 citation statements)

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“…Climate estimates indicate that P. xanthopygus endures markedly different conditions at diverse altitudes, with a pronounced decrease in annual mean ambient temperature and an increase in relative humidity towards higher elevations (Sassi & Novillo 2015). It has been described as a herbivore, but high variation in diet is reported among subspecies as well as across altitudes (Kramer et al 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Feeding strategies of a small mammal (Phyllotis xanthopygus, Rodentia Cricetidae) at diverse altitudes in the Central Andes, Argentina

Sassi

Cuevas

Menéndez

et al. 2016

Ethology Ecology & Evolution

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Knowledge of feeding habits not only contributes information related to the resources that individuals need to survive and breed, but also leads to insights about the interactions between a species and its environment. The optimal foraging theory explains diet selection by several attributes of the trophic scenario such as availability, diversity, quality and predictability of food. Other models propose that digestive tract mass increases under high metabolic demands by cold, affecting food choice and intake. Thus, diet selection emerges as a behavioural trait shaped by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The goal of our study was to determine variation in the trophic scenario among sites at different elevations, as well as variation in phenotypic traits relevant to the nutritional and energy balance in Phyllotis xanthopygus. This small rodent is widely distributed along the Andes Mountains. We assessed diet selection and digestive tract size in individuals collected at three elevations across its distribution range. Results on dietary proportion of specific trophic categories (green parts, fruits and arthropods) showed that P. xanthopygus alternates between omnivory and granivory/frugivory. Richness, diversity and quality of the available resources evidenced a relatively low-quality trophic scenario at high altitude. Nevertheless, the diets built in by animals from diverse altitudes lacked differentiation in quality or diversity. P. xanthopygus seems to behaviourally compensate environmental variation to cope with nutritional requirements, by changing diet composition and proportion of items included. The resultant uniform diet quality is consistent with the absence of variation in the gastrointestinal tract size. Considering the spatial variability and seasonality of the region, a behavioural response is probably the most convenient strategy to overcome short-term environmental heterogeneity. In a plastic species such as P. xanthopygus, behaviour is a fundamental aspect to take into account by predictive models in the forecasts of climate change effects on biological diversity.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Feeding strategies of a small mammal (Phyllotis xanthopygus, Rodentia Cricetidae) at diverse altitudes in the Central Andes, Argentina

Sassi

Cuevas

Menéndez

et al. 2016

Ethology Ecology & Evolution

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“…have been found to be dominant in small mammal communities in other areas of Patagonia (Pardin˜as et al, 2003). At a regional scale, distributions of A. olivaceus, Eligmodontia sp., P. xanthopygus and R. auritus have great overlap in the extra-Andean Argentine Patagonia (Kramer et al, 1999). A. olivaceus occurs in a wide variety of habitats, including forest, meadows, thick grassy habitats and bunchgrass steppes.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rodents from southern Patagonian semi-arid steppes (Santa Cruz Province, Argentina)

Cueto

Teta

Carli

2008

Journal of Arid Environments

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“…It is a species typical of xeric habitats, associated mainly with rocky open places. Perhaps a period of increased productivity in these rocky areas, with more seeds, leaves, fruits, and insects (Kramer et al, 1999), could explain this high frequency. Unlike Eligmodontia, the potentially inhabitable areas for P. xanthopygus could have increased during periods with these wetter conditions, promoting a growth trend in the population size.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Micromammals and paleoenvironments: Climatic oscillations in the Monte desert of Catamarca (Argentina) during the last two millenia

Ortíz

Jaén

Jayat

2012

Journal of Arid Environments

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Phyllotis xanthopygus

Cited by 33 publications

References 0 publications

Feeding strategies of a small mammal (Phyllotis xanthopygus, Rodentia Cricetidae) at diverse altitudes in the Central Andes, Argentina

Feeding strategies of a small mammal (Phyllotis xanthopygus, Rodentia Cricetidae) at diverse altitudes in the Central Andes, Argentina

Rodents from southern Patagonian semi-arid steppes (Santa Cruz Province, Argentina)

Micromammals and paleoenvironments: Climatic oscillations in the Monte desert of Catamarca (Argentina) during the last two millenia

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