naa a22 4500 510744931 CHVBK 20180411083042.0 cr unu---uuuuu 180411e20130701xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s13364-012-0123-8 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s13364-012-0123-8 Foraging behavior and spatial use of a rock specialist: the southern vizcacha ( Lagidium viscacia ), and the exotic European hare ( Lepus europaeus ) in rocky outcrops of northwestern Patagonia, Argentina [Elektronische Daten] [Gladys Galende, Estela Raffaele] The southern vizcacha (Lagidium viscacia) and the exotic European hare (Lepus europaeus) are two medium-sized herbivores that inhabit rocky outcrops in Patagonian steppe. These species overlap in diet and spatial use at medium distances from rocky outcrops in summer. We evaluated the spatial use through feces distribution in winter and determined seasonal foraging intensity in relation to the distances from rocky outcrops in order to elucidate how these herbivores use food and spatial resources in food scarcity periods. The vizcacha utilized the habitat close to rocky outcrops (<40m) independent of season, while the hare exploited the space more widely, especially distances >40m. However, in winter, at medium distances from rocky outcrops, there was partial spatial overlap because hares' activities were closer to rocky outcrops. Foraging intensity increased significantly in areas used by the vizcacha closer to rocky outcrops when food availability decreased, and the grasses Stipa speciosa, Poa sp., and Festuca pallescens were strongly foraged. In contrast, foraging intensity showed no changes in further distances to rocky outcrops and more use by the hare. The spatial and feeding behavior of the vizcacha, restricted to vicinity of rocky outcrops, showed high vulnerability to food availability changes. In resource scarcity situations, the spatial opportunistic behavior of the hare and the overlap in diet with the vizcacha constitutes a threat to this native herbivore. It is necessary to monitor populations of hare, since high densities could lead to food competition, impacting the small colonies of the southern vizcacha. Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża, Poland, 2012 Alien species nationallicence Browsing nationallicence Feeding distances nationallicence Spatial relations nationallicence Galende Gladys Department of Zoology, Bariloche Regional University Center, National University of Comahue, Quintral 1250, 8400, Bariloche, Argentina aut Raffaele Estela Laboratory Ecotono, INIBIOMA National University of Comahue, National University of Comahue, Quintral 1250, 8400, Bariloche, Argentina aut Acta Theriologica Springer-Verlag 58/3(2013-07-01), 305-313 0001-7051 58:3<305 2013 58 13364 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-012-0123-8 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-012-0123-8 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Galende Gladys Department of Zoology, Bariloche Regional University Center, National University of Comahue, Quintral 1250, 8400, Bariloche, Argentina aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Raffaele Estela Laboratory Ecotono, INIBIOMA National University of Comahue, National University of Comahue, Quintral 1250, 8400, Bariloche, Argentina aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Acta Theriologica Springer-Verlag 58/3(2013-07-01), 305-313 0001-7051 58:3<305 2013 58 13364 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer