Factors affecting home range size and overlap in Akodon azarae (Muridae: Sigmodontinae) in natural pasture of Argentina

Abstract

Differences in home range size in relation to sex, age, breeding and non-breeding periods were studied. Home range size and overlap were examined at different densities values in populations of Akodon azarae (Fischer, 1829) on railway banks in southern Cordoba Province (Argentina). The sampling was carried out between October 1994, and February 1997, using the capture-mark-recapture method. Home range size in A. azarae was determined by sex and breeding period, and it was independent of the observed density values. Home range size of males was always larger than that of females. Increase of population density during the breeding period affected the degree of intersexual overlap of home range.