[Home range, use of habitat and daily activity of the gopher Orthogeomys heterodus (Rodentia: Geomyidae) in a Costa Rican horticultural area]

Home range, daily activity and habitat use of four Giant Pocket Gophers Orthogeomys heterodus were determined by radiotelemetry. The study was carried out in a horticultural area of Cartago province, Costa Rica, during December 1989 and January 1990. Home range averaged 325 m2 for males and 233 m2 for females. There was a significant relationship between home range size and individual body mass. In average, 78% of localizations were in the nest or refuge located in all cases in the border of crops. Activity was greatest from 0600 to 0800 h and 1200 to 1400 h, and was reduced at night.