The Eastern Boundary of the Brazilian Cerrado: A Hotspot Region

eastern boundary of the Brazilian Cerrado: a hotspot region. Zoological Studies 51(7): 1207-1218. The non-flying small-mammal fauna of the eastern Cerrado domain of central Brazil, Trijunção region, Bahia and Goiás States, was surveyed and karyotyped in the dry and wet seasons. Four marsupial and 15 rodent species were captured, 5 of which are endemic to the Cerrado morphoclimatic domain. Some species were captured only in the dry season, and others only in the wet season. Species showed different habitat use during the year. Dry-season trap success was higher in wetland habitats, while rainy-season trap success was higher in dry habitats. These findings suggest that the season influences the presence and/or activity of some species in the different physiognomies. The geographic distribution of small rodents endemic to the Cerrado and the high number of endemic species in the study region point to the eastern Cerrado as another hotspot of this domain