We report results of dietary analyses of Akodon azarae and Calomys laucha and of food availability in corn fields and their borders in the Pampean region of central Argentina. Sampling was conducted at different developmental crop stages, in order to assess the influence of food availability on diet and reproductive performance. Both species were generalistic and opportunistic feeders, but differed in food habits and nutritional requirements for reproduction : A azarae had omnivorous diets and its breeding activity was related to high requirements of insects, whereas C. laucha was mainly an herbivorous-granivorous feeder and required high amounts of green forage to improve its reproductive performance. We discuss the role that food availability may play as a potential factor for competitive interactions at the different crop stages, regarding the changes in abundance of both species and their differences in diet, competitive ability, habitat preferences and colonizing potential.
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Bilenca et al. (1992) studied this question.
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