Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Consumption in Two Echimyid Rodents in Central Panama

Steven N. Preskitt; Thomas D. Lambert; Scott Mangan

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Consumption in Two Echimyid Rodents in Central Panama

Steven N. Preskitt¹, Thomas D. Lambert^1,*, and Scott Mangan²

¹Biology Department, Frostburg State University, 101 Braddock Road, Frostburg, MD 21532, USA.²Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro AR, 72401 USA. *Corresponding author.

Caribbean Naturalist, No. 103 (2025)

Published 30 July 2025

Abstract
Echimyid rodents are believed to play critical roles in Neotropical forests, but the majority of studies have been conducted on just a single species, and similarities to other species have only been assumed. Here we compare the consumption and dispersal of arbuscular mychorrhizal fungi (AMF) in 2 species of terrestrial echimyids: the heavily studied Proechimys semispinosus (Tome’s Spiny-rat) and morphologically similar Hoplomys gymnurus (Armored Rat). Both species appeared to regularly consume AMF, though P. semispinosus’ AMF consumption was limited to the wet season, presumably by hard dry soils, whereas H. gymnurus, which occupies wetter microclimates near streams, regularly consumed AMF in both the wet season and dry season. Thus, H. gymnurus might play a significant role in forest regeneration in wetter regions where it is more widespread throughout the forest, and in areas like Panama, its importance might increase as a result of changes in rainfall due to climate change.

Download Full-text pdf (Accessible only to subscribers. To subscribe click here.)