Effects of land use on the distribution of three species of armadillos in the Argentinean pampas

Abstract

We evaluated the effects of land use on the distribution of 3 sympatric species of armadillos, <i>Chaetophractus villosus, C. vellerosus</i>, and <i>Dasypus hybridus</i>, on 34 farms in the eastern Pampas. We characterized 4 soil and vegetation variables around each burrow located during surveys of these farms, and related burrow abundance to 10 variables used to characterize each farm. <i>C. vellerosus</i> was the most specialized, using primarily native woodlands and areas with calcareous soil. <i>D. hybridus</i> was associated with natural grasslands and avoided cultivated pastures, and was negatively related to the number of dogs that lived on the farms. <i>C. villosus</i>, the most abundant species, was found in all 4 types of habitats, but its distribution depended on the intensity of hunting on each farm.