SMALL RODENTS’ RICHNESS AND ABUNDANCE IN TWO AGROECOSYSTEMS AND A SECONDARY DRY FOREST (ACAHUAL) IN THE CUXTAL RESERVE, YUCATAN, MEXICO

Abstract

Small rodents’ relative abundance and richness were evaluated from both two agroecosystems and a secondary dry forest (“acahualâ€) in the Cuxtal Reserve in Yucatan, Mexico. The aim of the study was to build a species inventory, using the capture –mark – recapture technique. Rodents were marked by onychectomy (phalange removal). The Shannon-Wiener (H') and other community attributes were analyzed. We captured a total of 16 rodents belonging to two families and seven species, with Mus musculus and Ototylomys phyllotis as most abundant. The secondary dry forest was the most diverse with four species (H '= 1.28); M. musculus was exclusively found in the grassland. Peromyscus yucatanicus and O. phyllotis were found in the grassland and secondary dry forest, while Hereromys gaumeri was exclusively found in the secondary dry forest. There was a remarkable presence of H. gaumeri and P. yucatanicus which are endemic species of the Yucatan Peninsula. For all species, different demographic phases were found (youngs, subadults and adults) as well as reproductive males and females. Agroecosystems do not harbor the originally biodiversity of wild, small rodents, species; their presence may be occasional in these environments. In contrast, small fragments of secondary dry forest may retain endemic wildlife species whose dissemination may allow the regeneration of the forest; consequently, these latter environments must be protected.