Rodents in Agricultural Areas of the Atlantic Forest: Exploring their Diet in Annual Crops Through Stable Isotope Analysis

• Grant number: 24/11011-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Thiago Simon Marques
• Grantee: Barbara Protocevich Pina
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação, Pesquisa, Extensão e Inovação. Universidade de Sorocaba (UNISO). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The use of agricultural landscapes by wildlife species emerges as an extremely important topic, encompassing significant environmental and socio-economic aspects. In this context, the preservation of biodiversity in Brazil, a mega-diverse country with a rich variety of ecosystems and species, becomes essential. This project aims to address this issue through stable isotope analysis (SIA) of rodent feeding habits, considering changes in land use and crop cycles. The expected innovations from this research will significantly contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge and the development of more effective environmental management strategies in agricultural areas and the conservation of endemic biodiversity. The objective of this study is to evaluate the diet of rodents in crop fields using SIA during the cultivation of soybeans and corn over a productive year, including stages such as planting, flowering, and harvesting (2021-2022) in Southeast Brazil. This study will be fundamental in providing a comprehensive analysis of the feeding patterns of species inhabiting agricultural areas, which can serve as a model for other regions within the Atlantic Forest biome, where similar crops are grown and comparable climatic characteristics prevail. Samples of rodent hair will be analyzed to determine their isotopic compositions. Quantitative isotopic metrics, based on the distribution of data in the ´¹uN-´¹³C space, will be used to reveal trophic aspects of the studied species. The presence of rodent feeding throughout the crop life cycle will allow the identification of spatio-temporal isotopic patterns in the occupation of these habitats. These patterns are crucial to understanding how species respond to seasonal variations and agricultural practices, providing essential information to guide the management and conservation of these areas.