Home range of marsh rats, holochilus sciureus, a rodent pest in rice fields of Venezuela

radio tracking techniques were used to determine the home range of marsh rats holochilus sciureus in rice fields of the guárico river irrigation system, venezuela, in order to study movement patterns of tropical rodents and provide information for the management of this agricultural pest. after being captured using tomahawk traps, ten adult rats were equipped with radio-transmitters and tracked during the 2004 dry season between 18:00 and 6:00. home ranges were estimated based on four methods: minimum convex polygon, harmonic mean contours, fixed kernel and adaptive kernel. home ranges of males and females ranged between 0.6 and 1.3ha depending on the method of estimation. male-female range overlap and possible agonistic interactions between males, suggest male territoriality and a polygynic mating system. males showed greater motility than females. the results also reveal relationships between these rodent movements and environmental changes produced within rice plantations. ecological studies provide information for an integrated pest control program.