UNDERESTIMATION OF ABUNDANCES OF THE MONITO DEL MONTE (DROMICIOPS GLIROIDES) DUE TO A SAMPLING ARTIFACT

Fonturbel, FE; JIMENEZ, JE

Abstract

The monito del monte (Dromiciops gliroides) is an arboreal marsupial found only in austral South American temperate rain forests. Its conservation is a priority as the only extant species of the order Microbiotheria. We investigated whether the apparent low abundances reported for D. gliroides are real, or reflect a sampling artifact. We used wire-mesh and Sherman live traps, devices for recording tracks and hair, 2 types of bait, and 2 trap placements (ground level and 1.52.5 m high) in an old-growth forest in southern Chile. Type of bait and placement height affected captures of D. gliroides. The most efficient trapping combination (wire-mesh traps baited with banana, and placed above ground) yielded capture rates of up to 11, and a relative population density of 21 ± 5 individuals/ha (mean ± SE), whereas traditional methods used for sampling small mammals were not effective. The sampling artifact uncovered here may have important future management and conservation implications. © 2009 American Society of Mammalogists.

Más información

Título según WOS: UNDERESTIMATION OF ABUNDANCES OF THE MONITO DEL MONTE (DROMICIOPS GLIROIDES) DUE TO A SAMPLING ARTIFACT
Título según SCOPUS: Underestimation of abundances of the monito del Monte (Dromiciops gliroides) due to a Sampling Artifact
Título de la Revista: JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY
Volumen: 90
Número: 6
Editorial: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC
Fecha de publicación: 2009
Página de inicio: 1357
Página final: 1362
Idioma: English
URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1644/09-MAMM-A-027R1.1
DOI:

10.1644/09-MAMM-A-027R1.1

Notas: ISI, SCOPUS