Ecology of spiny rats, Proechimys canicollis, in northern Colombia

A population of Proechimys canicollis (spiny rat) in northern Colombia was sampled by monthly live-trapping for 21 months to describe abundance, popul ation dynamics, and sex and age structure. Sampling occurred along four per manent transects within largely old-growth tropical dry forest. A series of microhabitat variables was measured at each sampling station to describe m icrohabitat association of this species. P. canicollis was the most frequen tly-captured small mammal, but relative abundance was only 0.23 per 100 sta tion-nights. Abundance fluctuated over the study period and exhibited an an nual fluctuation during the first year but not the second. The sex ratio di d not differ from 1:1, and most individuals were adults at first capture. I ndividuals were distributed throughout sampled microhabitat but apparently were more abundant in disturbed areas of forest. The ecology of this specie s appeared to be similar to that of other members of the genus.