SMALL TERRESTRIAL RODENTS IN ELEVEN HABITATS IN SANTA ROSA NATIONAL PARK, COSTA RICA

Abstract

During the first 2 months of the rainy season, small terrestrial rodents (Liomys salvini, Sigmodon hispidus, Oryzomys fulvescens) were lietrapped in the 11 largest habitats in Santa Rosa National Park, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica (Abandoned Horse Pasture, Upland Mixed Deciduous Forest, Unburned Grassland, Burned Grassland, Oak Forest Edge, Bosque Humido, Xeric Ridge, Lowland Mixed Deciduous Forest, Lowland Evergreen Forest, Caesalpinia-Prosopis Swamp, Mangrove Swamp). Small rodents occurred in all 11 habitats but at greatly differing densities. L. salvin; was prominent in forest habitats and most abundant in Upland Mixed Deciduous Forest, but also occurred in nonforested habitats. S. hispidus was prominent in non-forested habitats, was most common in Abandoned Horse Pasture, and occurred sparsely in forested habitats. O. palustris occurred only in the habitats immediately adjacent to the ocean and was most abundant in Mangrove Swamp.