Diversity and co-occurrence of small and medium sized mammals in rock outcrops of the Desert Puna

Abstract

Limited knowledge exists about rock outcrops in Argentina, especially in the Puna ecoregion. This study investigated small and medium-sized mammal diversity using caves and crevices in Desert Puna’s rocky areas. Three rock outcrop sites, >1 km apart at Don Carmelo Reserve, were equipped with five camera traps each. Monitoring spanned 34 days (dry season) and 22 days (wet season). Five mammal species utilized caves and crevices, with 99% sampling coverage in both seasons. The wet season had slightly higher species richness, while the dry season showed higher diversity. Co-occurrence analysis revealed multiple rodent species sharing caves, indicating substantial species sharing and potential interactions in this habitat. These findings enhance our understanding of mammalian communities and the ecological complexities of the Puna ecoregion.