Ad. Francisco et al., VARIATION IN GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION OF BOLOMYS LASIURUS (RODENTIA, MURIDAE) IN AN AMAZONIAN SAVANNA, Journal of tropical ecology, 11, 1995, pp. 419-428
Reproduction by Bolomys lasiurus is strongly seasonal in the Amazonian
savanna of Alter do Chao, Para, Brazil. No pregnant or lactating fema
les were recorded during the early dry season (July-September). Relati
ve growth rates showed a similar though less consistent pattern. These
patterns do not appear to be due to a direct effect of rainfall as hi
gh reproduction and growth were recorded during the late dry season (O
ctober-November), even though rainfall and the availability of fruits
of shrubs were low during that period. It is likely that reinitiation
of reproduction during the dry season is due to an increase in the ava
ilability of invertebrates and/or wind-dispersed seeds. Fire at the en
d of the dry season appears to affect the diet of the rats, causing an
increase in the ingestion of invertebrates during the following wet s
eason. However, our data do not indicate that fire affects individual
reproductive output or growth.