SMALL TERRESTRIAL MAMMAL COMMUNITIES IN NATIVE RIPARIAN FOREST AND FORESTRY PLANTATIONS OF THE LOWER PARANÁ RIVER DELTA, ENTRE RÍOS

Morguenstern Quione Irene 1 , Maroli Malena *2 3, Sanchez Laura Cecilia 1 2 4, Rodríguez Estela Elizabeth 1 2 5

Abstract

Argentina has 1.3 million hectares of forest plantations. In order to certify its production and access better markets, the forestry industry requires the protection of environmental values, including biodiversity conservation. In the province of Entre Ríos, 99.5% of Salicaceae plantations are located in the Paraná and Uruguay River Delta and Islands ecoregion (Ibicuy Islands department). 
These plantations were established on original delta gallery forests and island grasslands, resulting in changes to their structural complexity and the availability of resources for wildlife. In Entre Ríos, knowledge of mammals associated with forest plantations is still limited. This study therefore compared communities of terrestrial small mammals in poplar and willow forest plantations and in delta gallery forests, evaluating the relationship between species abundance and vegetation cover type. A well-preserved community of non-flying micromammals was found, comprising six taxa typical of the delta: Oligoryzomys sp., Oxymycterus rufus, Akodon azarae, Calomys sp. and Holochilus sp. (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae), as well as Cryptonanus chacoensis (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae). Notably absent were synanthropic rodents. The number of captures and Hill's diversity measures were similar across the explored environments. However, the composition of species captured differed due to their particular habitat requirements, as demonstrated by the significant association of the relative abundance of all species with one or more vegetation variables measured at the site scale. Three of the
captured cricetid species are important for Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, an endemic zoonotic disease that mainly affects rural workers. This article contributes to the environmental management of forest plantations in the Paraná and Uruguay river deltas and islands.