EFFECT OF DIETARY-COMPOSITION ON FOOD SELECTION AND ASSIMILATION IN THE LEAF-EARED MOUSE (PHYLLOTIS-DARWINI) INHABITING CENTRAL CHILE

In this work we investigated the criterion by which a granivorous rode nt selects food and the relationship between the diet selected and the nutrients that become assimilated. We conducted tests of food prefere nce and nutrient assimilation in the sigmodontine leaf-eared mouse Phy llotis darwini, which inhabits the mediterranean and semiarid regions of Chile and lives in open scrub habitats subjected to summer drought. We found that this rodent does not select food based on a single crit erion. When given a choice, individuals select food with the highest c ontent of nutrients to satisfy a minimal assimilation of 4.34 g dry-ma tter/day. Thus, animals seem to use criteria in addition to energy con tent in choosing food.