Microhabitat selection by murid rodents in the Monte desert of Argentina

In this study I assessed microhabitat selection by four murid rodent species inhabiting the central Monte Desert (Argentina) in three different habitats, using logistic regression. Selectivity was weak in all species, but it was possible to associate the grass mouse Akodon molinae with high litter cover, probably due to the high availability of insects present in the dry plant material. A negative relationship between percentage of bare soil and captures of Calomys musculinus was highly significant in the creosotebush community. Graomys griseoflavus selected microhabitats with high cover of litter, subshrubs, shrubs and trees in the mesquite forest, and with high cover of subshrubs in the creosotebush community. Eligmodontia typus selected microhabitats with low cover of trees and shrubs in sand dunes, but this species chose high cover of subshrubs in the creosotebush community, and high cover of herbs in the mesquite forest.