QUANTITATIVE HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS OF SMALL MAMMALS IN A TEMPERATE RAIN-FORESTS IN SOUTHERN CHILE - EMPIRICAL PATTERNS AND THE IMPORTANCE OFECOLOGICAL SCALE

Multivariate analyses of distributions of small mammals identified imp ortant habitat associations in a precordilleran temperature rainforest in southern Chile. Significant differences in vegetation were found b etween summer (January-March) and winter (July-August) periods, indica ting that multiple-season studies may be necessary to fully assess hab itat preferences of small mammals. Three species of sigmodontines (Ako don olivaceus, Abrothrix longipilis, Abrothrix sanborni), and a putati ve A. longipilis X A. sanborni hybrid, showed moderate habitat prefere nces with considerable interspecific overlap. Habitat associations of Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, a sporadic resident, were significantly di fferent from those of the akodonts, perhaps reflecting transient statu s in the community; other species generally had insufficient captures for quantitative comparisons. These patterns of habitat association di ffer from those of previous studies and suggest the consequences of me thodological, spatiotemporal, and demographic factors in the interpret ation and detection of multivariate ecological relationships.