Effect of an urban area in the distribution pattern and diversity of Neotropical rodents

Urbanization implies the loss of biodiversity and promotes extirpation local flora fauna. It favors habitat fragmentation establishment increase non-native species and, eventually, homogenization landscape. This study aims to evaluate urbanization process in a medium-sized city Mexican southeast, San Cristóbal de Las Casas (SCLC) Neotropics, response rodent community such process. The area was categorized according its structural characteristics into four coverage classes: urban, forest, agricultural mountain wetlands. Rodents were sampled over gradients. In each gradient, nine sampling sites established. responses alpha beta diversities landscape structure (landscape metrics) evaluated. larger diversity rodents found mosaic transition categories least diverse conserved urban ones. SCLC, richness responds number fragments Mus musculus Rattus rattus more abundant landscapes with high percentage cover, while Peromycus mexicanus P. beatae, higher forest cover. is that grows areas native vegetation, forests wetlands; which remain embedded matrix. Mosaic favor (intermediate disturbance hypothesis). suggests both are natural vegetation also sites. Sanitary measures granted, since reservoir pathogens zoonotic potential can be area.