Patterns of habitat use and selection by the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris): A landscape-scale analysis
Habitat selection analysis provides useful information on how animals become distributed in response to spatial heterogeneity. Here, we analyze the habitat use and selection of different water bodies (marsh, swamps and round shallow lakes) by capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) and their relation...
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2014
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| Acceso en línea: | https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_09123814_v29_n2_p191_Corriale http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_09123814_v29_n2_p191_Corriale |
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paper:paper_09123814_v29_n2_p191_Corriale2023-06-08T15:49:59Z Patterns of habitat use and selection by the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris): A landscape-scale analysis Argentina Habitat selection Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Spatial heterogeneity Wetlands abundance adaptation behavioral response geographical distribution habitat availability habitat selection habitat type habitat use population density rodent seasonal variation spatial distribution thermoregulation Argentina Corrientes Ibera Wetlands Habitat selection analysis provides useful information on how animals become distributed in response to spatial heterogeneity. Here, we analyze the habitat use and selection of different water bodies (marsh, swamps and round shallow lakes) by capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) and their relation to environmental variables during contrasting climate-hydrological seasons in the Esteros del Iberá (Corrientes, Argentina). We evaluated the intensity of use by capybaras through the total number of individuals (abundance) in each water body, the number and mean size of social groups, and the physical and vegetation characteristics of the environment. The capybaras used marsh and swamps according to availability in both seasons, while they used rounded shallow lakes less than their available would suggest in summer. The use intensity of different rounded shallow lakes estimated based on group size did not show significant differences. In contrast, significant differences were observed when evaluated by the number of individuals in each rounded shallow lake. Different intensity of use was closely associated with environmental and vegetation characteristics. The results show that habitat suitability for capybaras is associated with vegetation cover and "embalsados" in the low-lying area rather than with the morphometry of the rounded shallow lakes. The pattern of habitat selection may depend on forage quality, water availability for thermoregulation and mating, and presence of shelter and resting sites. On the other hand, the present study shows how the size, shape and the abundance of different types of water bodies affect population abundance and density. © 2013 The Ecological Society of Japan. 2014 https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_09123814_v29_n2_p191_Corriale http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_09123814_v29_n2_p191_Corriale |
| institution |
Universidad de Buenos Aires |
| institution_str |
I-28 |
| repository_str |
R-134 |
| collection |
Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA) |
| topic |
Argentina Habitat selection Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Spatial heterogeneity Wetlands abundance adaptation behavioral response geographical distribution habitat availability habitat selection habitat type habitat use population density rodent seasonal variation spatial distribution thermoregulation Argentina Corrientes Ibera Wetlands |
| spellingShingle |
Argentina Habitat selection Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Spatial heterogeneity Wetlands abundance adaptation behavioral response geographical distribution habitat availability habitat selection habitat type habitat use population density rodent seasonal variation spatial distribution thermoregulation Argentina Corrientes Ibera Wetlands Patterns of habitat use and selection by the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris): A landscape-scale analysis |
| topic_facet |
Argentina Habitat selection Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Spatial heterogeneity Wetlands abundance adaptation behavioral response geographical distribution habitat availability habitat selection habitat type habitat use population density rodent seasonal variation spatial distribution thermoregulation Argentina Corrientes Ibera Wetlands |
| description |
Habitat selection analysis provides useful information on how animals become distributed in response to spatial heterogeneity. Here, we analyze the habitat use and selection of different water bodies (marsh, swamps and round shallow lakes) by capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) and their relation to environmental variables during contrasting climate-hydrological seasons in the Esteros del Iberá (Corrientes, Argentina). We evaluated the intensity of use by capybaras through the total number of individuals (abundance) in each water body, the number and mean size of social groups, and the physical and vegetation characteristics of the environment. The capybaras used marsh and swamps according to availability in both seasons, while they used rounded shallow lakes less than their available would suggest in summer. The use intensity of different rounded shallow lakes estimated based on group size did not show significant differences. In contrast, significant differences were observed when evaluated by the number of individuals in each rounded shallow lake. Different intensity of use was closely associated with environmental and vegetation characteristics. The results show that habitat suitability for capybaras is associated with vegetation cover and "embalsados" in the low-lying area rather than with the morphometry of the rounded shallow lakes. The pattern of habitat selection may depend on forage quality, water availability for thermoregulation and mating, and presence of shelter and resting sites. On the other hand, the present study shows how the size, shape and the abundance of different types of water bodies affect population abundance and density. © 2013 The Ecological Society of Japan. |
| title |
Patterns of habitat use and selection by the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris): A landscape-scale analysis |
| title_short |
Patterns of habitat use and selection by the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris): A landscape-scale analysis |
| title_full |
Patterns of habitat use and selection by the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris): A landscape-scale analysis |
| title_fullStr |
Patterns of habitat use and selection by the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris): A landscape-scale analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Patterns of habitat use and selection by the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris): A landscape-scale analysis |
| title_sort |
patterns of habitat use and selection by the capybara (hydrochoerus hydrochaeris): a landscape-scale analysis |
| publishDate |
2014 |
| url |
https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_09123814_v29_n2_p191_Corriale http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_09123814_v29_n2_p191_Corriale |
| _version_ |
1768544417592901632 |