Abstract

MONTERO-BAGATELLA, Sandra H.; GONZALEZ-ROMERO, Alberto; GALLINA, Sonia  and  SANCHEZ-ROJAS, Gerardo. Relationship between vegetation characteristics and densities of the Perote ground squirrel. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2017, vol.88, n.3, pp.691-700. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmb.2017.06.010.

The Perote ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus perotensis) is nationally and internationally classified as vulnerable to extinction. The loss of their habitat caused by the change in land use has been the main cause of their conservation problems. Some studies suggested that rodents in grasslands can resist some habitat disturbance and may even benefit from these changes. We evaluated the relationship between the structure of the vegetation and the density of the squirrel. Our results suggest that the presence of the squirrel is determined by the height and coverage of the vegetation, as they provide them protection from predators, but it should allow visibility to them and the necessary food resources for their subsistence. In some of the study sites, the Perote ground squirrel densities was barely the minimum viable, therefore it is important to take the necessary measures for the proper management of their habitat because their condition as a microendemic species avoids them to establishment in other habitat type.

Keywords : Ground squirrel; Endemism; Threatened species; Vegetation coverage; Grasslands.

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