Use of a fragmented landscape by three species of opossum in south-eastern Brazil

Abstract

Spatial patterns presented by the opossums Caluromys philander , Philander frenata and Micoureus demerarae were studied, through radio-tracking, in a landscape composed of eight small (1.3–13.3 ha) forest fragments surrounded by a matrix of open vegetation in south-eastern Brazil. Sixteen individuals were fitted with radio-collar transmitters and monitored for 2–8 mo. Fixes were obtained by the ‘homing-in on the animal’ technique. Numbers of locations of each individual varied from 6 to 117. Home ranges sizes ranged from 2.5–7.0 ha for C. philander , 0.6–7.4 ha for P. frenata and 0.8–1.7 ha for M. demerarae . Fragments, both edges and interiors, were used more often than the matrix; they are the primary habitat for these marsupials in the landscape. The matrix was used for foraging by P. frenata and C. philander , and traversed in five movements between fragments by P. frenata . Ability to use fragment edges and the matrix is important in explaining how these marsupials are able to persist in the landscape.