Feeding habits of small mammals in agroecosystems of central Argentina

Feeding habits of sympatric species of small mammals in agroecosystems of central Argentina were analysed using micro-histological analysis of stomach contents. ALL small mammal species were omnivores, but species changed their diets in relation to the habitat disturbance level. Calomys species showed more dietary overlap in greatly and moderately disturbed habitats than in Less disturbed habitats. Calomys species and Akodon dolores behaved in opposite ways. The high degree of dietary overlap among Calomys species was explained by the chance disturbance hypothesis, and their low degree of dietary overlap by classical resource partitioning. The high dietary overlap between Calomys species and A. dolores was explained via the generalization-specialization hypothesis.