Abstract

SANTIZ, Eugenia C. et al. Uso y selección de asociaciones vegetales por la liebre de Tehuantepec (Lepus flavigularis) en Oaxaca, México. Therya [online]. 2012, vol.3, n.2, pp.127-136. ISSN 2007-3364.  https://doi.org/10.12933/therya-12-70.

In this work was determined the pattern of use and selection temporal and spatial of vegetal associations of the Tehuantepec jackrabbit (Lepus flavigularis), endemic species, and in risk of extinction. The data were obtained by the density by count of pellets and direct records of jackrabbits in different vegetal associations and the availability (area) of each one, and it was compared between dry and rainy seasons in Montecillo Santa Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico. Four types of vegetal associations were determined: 1) savannah-morro, 2) savannah-nanchal, 3) thorny scrub, and 4) gallery forest. The savannah-nanchal was selected by the jackrabbit using the densities with the count of pellets (χ² = 202.35, P = 0.05), and the savannah-morro was selected at night according to the records of jackrabbits observed (χ² = 6.98, P = 0.05). The selection of vegetal associations does not differ between the dry and rainy seasons. The Tehuantepec jackrabbit probably selects opened areas with a low density of shrubs. When knowing the vegetal associations selected by the Tehuantepec jackrabbit, it will be possible to identify high-priority sites for its conservation.

Keywords : density; habitat; Lepus flavigularis; Tehuantepec jackrabbit; selection; use.