Projeto: roedores da Amazônia oriental.

Abstract

The work developed in the project was structured to assist in the development of a regional scenario of small mammal species in the Eastern Amazon. Initially, a compilation of biogeographic data of specimens from MPEG's scientific collection and descriptions of the geographic distribution contained in the literature was carried out. Simultaneously, field trips (6 during 1994) were conducted to collect specimens of this fauna from different forest localities. Preliminary results indicate that the rodent fauna in eastern Amazônia is composed of at least 55 species in 14 genera. The analysis of the biogeographic data suggests that the characterizations of this fauna have been based on repetitive collections, concentrated in forested areas, which hinders the analysis of the fauna composition as a function of habitat distribution. As a result, the distribution limits for most species are imprecise. At this point, it is premature to interpret biogeographic patterns for most genera. One can, however, detect the influence of certain hydrographic arrangements (such as the R. Amazonas), which limit the occurrence of some taxa north of this river. The results of the collections suggest that the general biogeographic panorama for this group will undergo profound changes, depending on the continuity of systematic collections (as has already occurred with some echimids, e.g. Dactylomus dactylinus).