Habitat Selection by Female Rattus lutreolus Drives Asymmetric Competition and Coexistence with Pseudomys higginsi

摘要: Two native Australian rodents, the velvet-furred swamp rat ( Rattus lutreolus velutinus ) and long-tailed mouse Pseudomys higginsi ), are sympatric in wet sclerophyll forests on Mount Wellington, Tasmania, Australia. Their relatively large macrohabitat overlap implies that these species partition one or more resources to coexist. We used census data examine role of microhabitat structure resource partitioning. At trap stations where only other was trapped, significant differences existed. R. trapped areas densest vegetation ≤1 min height. Male female exhibited separation during non-breeding season (winter). time, adult subadult rats occupied thickest ground cover; males surrounding, open forest at lower densities. After onset breeding, male visited by rats. P. never most were captured but often same as . relative rate capture increased shifted their trap-revealed ranges incorporate females resident. propose seasonal intersexual habitat , particularly use females, may be an essential component structuring rodent community forests.