Ecologia alimentar e reprodutiva de Marmosops paulensis (Didelphimorphia : Didelphidae) em uma area de Mata Atlantica no sudeste de São Paulo

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2005

RESUMO

Marmosops paulensis [Tate, 1931] (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) is a small marsupial occurring in montane forests above 800 m in the Brazilian Atlantic forest. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of resource availability on the diet, space use and reproductive patterns of M. paulensis. This study was carried out from August 2002 to July 2004 at Parque Estadual Intervales (24o16?S, 48o25?W), an area located in Ribeirão Grande, southeastern Brazil. Insects, gastropods, arachnids, fruits and flowers were found in the diet of M. paulensis. Most fruits consumed by M. paulensis belonged to pioneer plants, and Piper (Piper gaudichaudianum and Piper sp.1) fruits were by far the most consumed. Fruits were regularly consumed year-round, while arthropods and flowers were highly consumed during the food shortage season. Daily home range size estimated using a spool and line device (0.38 ± 0.18 ha) was not influenced by body size or sex. However, fruit abundance, with especial regard to Piper, led to a reduction in the daily movements of M. paulensis. Reproductive activity was highly synchronized and markedly seasonal, occurring from September to March. A combination of rainfall, day length and fruit availability seemed to trigger the reproductive activity of M. paulensis. After the reproductive period, adults suffered a high mortality, in a way that each individual took part in only one reproductive event. Marmosops paulensis seems to rely more on fruits than previously thought and it is possible that they supply part of their energetic requirements through carbohydrates present in fruits. The preference for Piper fruits and their effect on home range size of M. paulensis may be due to the spatio-temporal predictability of these fruits. Regarding reproduction, M. paulensis exhibits a semelparous life-history. This strategy and the high synchrony in the reproductive activity of M. paulensis, suggests that day length acts as a major cue controlling reproduction, once this factor shows a high predictable variation in the study site

ASSUNTO(S)

marsupial - reprodução ecologia animal dieta piperaceae

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