Changes in rodent communities according to the landscape structure in an urban ecosystem

We analyzed the relation between rodent communities composition and diversity and the landscape structure in the city of Buenos Aires. Between October 2002 and December 2005 rodent samplings were conducted in a natural reserve, three parklands, three shantytowns and two industrial-residential neighborhoods. Landscape structure at each site was characterized by the proportion of the surface occupied by different land-cover types, and the proportion covered by buildings. We caught 413 rodents of the following species: the native Oligoryzomys flavescens, Deltamys kempi, Calomys musculinus and Cavia aperea; and the introduced Rattus norvegicus, R. rattus and Mus musculus. Native species were dominant in the natural reserve but were also present in parklands. R. rattus, R. norvegicus and/or M. musculus were the dominant species in parklands, shantytowns or industrial-residential neighborhoods. Differences in landscape structure contributed to explain differences in community composition. Diversity, richness and representation of native species decreased with increasing urbanization. Our findings may be useful for planning decisions for either conservation or pest control goals, based on the rodent community composition inferred from the landscape structure. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.