Use of space by neotropical marsupial Didelphis albiventris (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) in an urban forest fragment

Abstract

A population of the Neotropical marsupial Didelphis albiventris (Lund, 1840) living in an urban forest fragment was studied. Population structure and the influence of sex and age on two variables related to habitat use (Daily home range - MCP and Habitat use intensity - UI) obtained by the spool-and-line technique were analysed. There were 20 males and 29 females studied (N = 49). No sexual dimorphism was apparent in adult individuals. There were 16 males and 24 females tracked using the spool-and-line device. There were significant differences found in the mean size of the daily home range, which was greater in adults than in sub-adults. Regarding the habitat use intensity there were also significant differences related to age. There were no significant differences in MCP and UI related to the sex of the individuals. Besides the analyzed factors, the variables related to habitat use are possibly influenced by other factors, especially, the ones related to the conservation status of the fragment.