Effect of herbivorous rodents (cavies and tuco-tucos) on a shrub community in the Monte Desert, Argentina

The importance of tuco-tucos (Ctenomys eremophilus) and cavies (Microcavia australis) as herbivores in the Monte Desert was assessed on a creosotebush community dominated byLarrea cuneifolia. Herbivory by tuco-tucos or cavies affected 35% of the total plants. The most highly damaged plant species wasAtriplex lampa, followed byLarrea cuneifoliaandLyciumsp. The level of damage caused byCtenomyswas higher than that produced by cavies