Unprecedented habitat use by an arboreal Neotropical marsupial (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) in the Cerrado
Author:
Oliveira Hernani F. M.1ORCID, Camargo Nícholas F.2, Nappo Humberto C.2, Venâncio Isac M.1, Queiroz Tânia A.1, Freitas Joseana L.1, Figueiredo Diainara S.1, Alencar Pedro R.1, Costa Ticiane L.1, Colli Guarino R.1
Affiliation:
1. Coleção Herpetológica da Universidade de Brasília, Departamento de Zoologia , Universidade de Brasília , Brasília 70910-900 , Brazil 2. Departamento de Ecologia , Universidade de Brasília , Brasília , DF , Brazil
Abstract
Abstract
The brown-eared woolly opossum (Caluromys lanatus) is an elusive frugivorous Neotropical canopy specialist marsupial considered primarily arboreal, but here we report the first records of individuals from this species captured on the ground in the Cerrado. We hypothesize two main reasons to explain this behavior: first related to canopy openness, which would force the animals to the ground to keep moving across the landscape; and the second related with search for food on the ground during periods of food scarcity due to increased canopy gaps. Our findings can have important implications for the species conservation and understanding forest ecological dynamics.
Funder
Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Distrito Federal Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior Universidade de Brasília
Publisher
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Subject
Animal Science and Zoology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
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