Landscape partitioning by nocturnal rodent assemblages in the Llanos de Ojuelos, in Mexico’s Central High Plateau

摘要: Aim The Llanos de Ojuelos in Mexico's Central High Plateau supports unique Opuntia scrublands and the southernmost Chihuahuan grasslands. Although human activities have modified strongly its landscape impacted biodiversity at an unknown scale, such impacts are poorly known. We aimed understanding how nocturnal rodent species distributed across formed assemblages on role integration of different habitats level. Location study was carried out 43 sites a area approximately 3350 km2 Methods During Spring 2008, we surveyed rodents, through live-trapping. redefined habitat classes based log-linear multinomial regressions captures. Species rarefaction curves true alpha, beta gamma diversities were calculated for classes. A map constructed Landsat imagery. Results captured 458 individuals 20 species. Multinomial caused merger 11 priori defined into 7. Leguminous scrub mixed nopaleras, both secondary habitats, had highest alpha diversity values. Closed arboreal nopaleras grasslands within-habitat variability (1Db) lowest coverage. Within 1Db larger than 1Db, because great overlap assemblage composition between habitats. Main conclusions There no 'typical' per class, but they organized loosely fuzzy borders. Rodent community organization highly species-centred. At level, profound effect should be included management schemes biological conservation. most endangered seem to closed Any conservation efforts must consider their increase size remaining patches.