title: Food preferences by Octodon degus (Rodentia caviomorpha): Their role in the chilean matorral composition.
abstract: The food preferences of Octodon degus are examined in laboratory test. Results indicate that degus prefer new rather than mature leaves of Chilean matorral shrubs, and that degus do not discriminate between new leaves (equivalents of shrub seedlings) of different shrub species. The significance of degus preferences in relation to matorral composition is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Javier A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Simonetti
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montenegro