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Use of a fragmented landscape by three species of opossum in south-eastern Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 July 2007

Paula Koeler Lira ,
Fernando Antonio dos Santos Fernandez ,
Henrique Santiago Alberto Carlos  and
Patrícia de Lima Curzio
Paula Koeler Lira
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CP 68020, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-590, Brazil
Fernando Antonio dos Santos Fernandez
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CP 68020, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-590, Brazil
Henrique Santiago Alberto Carlos
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CP 68020, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-590, Brazil Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Manaus, AM, Brazil
Patrícia de Lima Curzio
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CP 68020, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-590, Brazil
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Abstract

Spatial patterns presented by the opossums Caluromys philander, Philander frenata and Micoureus demerarae were studied, through radio-tracking, in a landscape composed of eight small (1.3–13.3 ha) forest fragments surrounded by a matrix of open vegetation in south-eastern Brazil. Sixteen individuals were fitted with radio-collar transmitters and monitored for 2–8 mo. Fixes were obtained by the ‘homing-in on the animal’ technique. Numbers of locations of each individual varied from 6 to 117. Home ranges sizes ranged from 2.5–7.0 ha for C. philander, 0.6–7.4 ha for P. frenata and 0.8–1.7 ha for M. demerarae. Fragments, both edges and interiors, were used more often than the matrix; they are the primary habitat for these marsupials in the landscape. The matrix was used for foraging by P. frenata and C. philander, and traversed in five movements between fragments by P. frenata. Ability to use fragment edges and the matrix is important in explaining how these marsupials are able to persist in the landscape.

Keywords

Atlantic forestCaluromys philanderforest fragmentationhome rangemarsupialsMicoureus demeraraePhilander frenataspatial patterns
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 23 , Issue 4 , July 2007 , pp. 427 - 435
Copyright
2007 Cambridge University Press

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