Agriculture has been and still remains as a huge transforming power of our planet. In Argentina, agroecosystems of the pampas have also changed accordingly, led by agricultural expansion and the massive adoption of no-till system, along with territorial reorganization and intensification of livestock production. In turn, infrastructure (roads, channels trenches) imposed new configurations to the rural landscape. How mammals have responded to these changes? Here we summarize the results recorded, among which we note: 1) a marked differential use of plots by the two most common species of armadillos, large hairy armadillos (Chaetophractus villosus) more active in crop stubbles and southern long-nosed armadillos (Dasypus hybridus) more active in paddocks under livestock use, 2) the coexistence of Pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) and cattle is only possible under grazing systems that provide resting periods to paddocks or under low stocking schemes, and 3) that coypu (Myocastor coypus) differentially use artificial channels in drier periods. Opportunities and challenges derived from these responses are discussed for the conservation of endangered species or the management of potentially conflicting species, as well as some future research needs are identified in terms of changes that continue to operate on these systems.

La actividad agropecuaria ha sido, y continúa siendo, una gigantesca fuerza transformadora de nuestro planeta. Los agroecosistemas de las pampas, en Argentina, no han sido la excepción a estas transfor-maciones: a la expansión agrícola y la masiva adopción del sistema de siembra directa, se le ha sumado el reordenamiento territorial y la intensificación de la ganadería. A su vez, obras de infraestructura (caminos, cana-lizaciones, terraplenes) impusieron nuevas configuraciones al paisaje rural ¿Cómo ha respondido la mastofauna a estos cambios? En este trabajo sintetizamos los resultados registrados, entre los cuales podemos señalar: 1) un marcado uso diferencial de lotes por parte de las especies de armadillos más comunes, con mayor actividad de peludos (Chaetophractus villosus) en rastrojos agrícolas y de mulitas (Dasypus hybridus) en campos ganaderos, 2) que la coexistencia entre venados de las pampas (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) y ganado vacuno solo es posible bajo sistemas de pastoreo que ofrezcan períodos de descanso a los potreros o bajo esquemas de baja carga ganadera, y 3) que los coipos (Myocastor coypus) utilizan diferencialmente los canales artificiales en períodos más secos. Se discuten las oportunidades y desafíos que estas respuestas tienen para la conservación de especies amenazadas o el manejo de especies potencialmente conflictivas, y se señalan algunas necesidades futuras de investigación en función de los cambios que continúan operando sobre estos sistemas.

We update the distribution of three species of armadillos (Chaetophractus villosus, C. vellerosus and Dasypus hybridus) in the Pampas region within the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, with information that comes from fieldworks conducted during 2011-2013. Armadillos were recorded through direct observations and indirect evidence (burrows and foraging holes). We obtained 632 records (10 C. vellerosus, 184 D. hybridus, and 438 C. villosus), which provide information of 27 counties for which there were no documented records of the species, we correct previous data, and we complete information of areas scarcely surveyed in previous years such as the center and western areas of the province.

Actualizamos la distribución de tres especies de armadillos (Chaetophractus villosus, C. vellerosus y Dasypus hybridus) presentes en la región pampeana comprendida en la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina, con muestreos de campo realizados durante 2011-2013. Los armadillos fueron registrados mediante observaciones directas y evidencias indirectas (cuevas y hozaduras). Se obtuvieron 632 registros (10 C. vellerosus, 184 D. hybridus y 438 C. villosus), lo que aporta información de 27 partidos donde no había registros documentados de estas especies, corregimos datos previos y completamos información del centro y oeste de la provincia, áreas que habían sido poco muestreadas anteriormente.

Ozotoceros bezoarticus celer, the southernmost subspecies of pampas deer and endemic to the Argentine Pampas, is seriously endangered. In Buenos Aires Province, the last Pampas deer population is located in the Bahía Samborombón region. Poaching and the increase in exotic species such as feral dogs and feral pigs have been suggested as the most important causes affecting the recovery of the deer population. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the spatial and temporal variations in distribution and abundance of the Pampas deer and the feral pig in the Bahía Samborombón Wildlife Refuge and to discuss the possible consequences of the interaction between these species. Six aerial surveys were conducted during 2002-2005. A total of 747 deer and 2690 feral pigs were counted, with a slight decrease in the deer sightings and an important increase in pig sightings during the sampling period. Estimated density ranged between 0.63-1.56 individuals/km² for deer and from 0.91 to 7.78 individuals/km² for pigs. A negative correlation was found between densities of the two species (r s=-0.83; P=0.04), and the distributions are not mutually independent. A progressive change in distribution has been detected in the Pampas deer population during the last three decades. This study provides evidence of the potential existence of negative interactions between Pampas deer and pigs. Due to the critical situation of the Pampas deer population, a control plan for feral pigs should be developed and urgently implemented to prevent the increase and expansion of this population to the south of the Samborombón bay, and consequently, to reduce the potential competition and predation on the existing deer population.

Ozotoceros bezoarticus celer es la subespecie más austral del venado de las pampas; es endémica de la eco-región pampeana y se encuentra seriamente amenazada de extinción. En Buenos Aires, el último núcleo poblacional existente se localiza en la Bahía Samborombón. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar las variaciones en la distribución y abundancia de venados y chanchos cimarrones en el Refugio de Vida Silvestre Bahía Samborombón, y discutir la interacción potencial entre ambas especies. Se realizaron seis muestreos aéreos durante el período 2002-2005, en los que se contabilizaron 747 venados y 2690 chanchos, y se registró una leve disminución del número de venados y un notable incremento del de chanchos. Se halló una correlación negativa entre la densidad de ambas especies (r s=-0.83; P=0.04) y se detectó que su distribución no es independiente entre sí. En las últimas tres décadas se observó un cambio en la distribución de venados, posiblemente asociado al incremento de chanchos. Este trabajo aporta evidencias indirectas de la existencia potencial de interacciones negativas entre las dos especies que se reflejan en relaciones numéricas y espaciales inversas.

We studied hantavirus seroprevalence and virus variability in rodent populations in Diego Gaynor, northwest of Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Rodent samplings were conducted in railroads and cropfield borders in March and July 1999, September and December 2000, and March 2001. Antibody detection was performed by an enzyme link immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using the recombinant nucleoprotein of Andes (AND) virus as antigen. Tissue samples were taken from positive antibody individuals in order to confirm the presence of hantavirus genomic material and to identify virus genotypes. Akodon azarae was the most abundant species, followed by Oligoryzomys flavescens, while Calomys laucha and C. musculinus were rarely caught. We found a rate of seroprevalence of 9.3% for a total sample of 291 A. azarae and 13.5% for 37 O. flavescens. After molecular analyses of hantavirus, we confirmed the presence of hantavirus genomic material in 16 individuals with ELISA (+) results and two individuals with ELISA (-). Four amplimers for each species were sequenced and compared to the corresponding sequences of representative hantaviruses. We identified the AND Cent Lec from three O. flavescens, and the Pergamino virus from four A. azarae and from one O. flavescens. A. azarae males had higher seroprevalence than females, and heavier individuals showed higher seroprevalence than lighter ones. We did not find seroprevalence differences according to sex in O. flavescens, although this result may have been produced by the low sample size. The lowest seroprevalence was found in a period of high rodent density, when juveniles prevailed in the population. We found higher seroprevalences than those detected in previous studies for other localities of central Argentina where cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) have been reported. The presence of AND Cent Lec virus in rodent populations of the study area, which is responsible of HPS cases in central Argentina, suggests that human populations are at risk of HPS disease, although there were not reported cases of this disease until today.