Spatial and temporal population dynamics of rodents in three geographically different regions in Africa: Implication for ecologically-based rodent management†
As part of a three-year study to develop ecologically-based rodent management (EBRM) in southern Africa, a capture–mark–recapture study was carried out in Tanzania, Namibia and Swaziland to establish the demographic patterns and population dynamics of rodents. Two study grids were established in eac...
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ftjafricanj:oai:ojs.ajol.info:article/154890 2023-05-15T18:05:43+02:00 Spatial and temporal population dynamics of rodents in three geographically different regions in Africa: Implication for ecologically-based rodent management† Massawe, Apia W. Mulngu, Loth S. Mulungu Makundi, Rhodes H. Dlamini, Nomfundo Eiseb, Seth J. Kirsten, Frikkie Mahlaba, Themb’alilahlwa Malebane, Phanuel Von Maltitz, Emil Monadjem, Ara Taylor, Peter Tutjavi, Vassana Belmain, Steven R. 2017-04-12 application/pdf https://www.ajol.info/index.php/az/article/view/154890 eng eng NISC (Pty) Ltd https://www.ajol.info/index.php/az/article/view/154890/144471 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/az/article/view/154890 The copyright belongs to the Zoological Society of Southern Africa. African Zoology; Vol 46, No 2 (2011); 393-405 2224-073X 1562-7020 Tanzania Swaziland Namibia recruitment survival capture–mark–recapture pest management Mastomys Aethomys Arvicanthis Gerbilliscus Acomys Lemniscomys Rattus Graphiurus Mus Saccostomus Steatomys info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Peer-reviewed Article 2017 ftjafricanj 2017-04-15T23:56:57Z As part of a three-year study to develop ecologically-based rodent management (EBRM) in southern Africa, a capture–mark–recapture study was carried out in Tanzania, Namibia and Swaziland to establish the demographic patterns and population dynamics of rodents. Two study grids were established in each country. In Tanzania, ten species of rodents and one shrew (Crocidura sp.) were identified in the study area. The rodent species consisted of Mastomys natalensis, Aethomys chrysophilus, Arvicanthis neumanni, Gerbilliscus vicina, Acomys spinosissimus, Lemniscomys griselda, Lemniscomys zebra, Rattus rattus, Graphiurus sp. and Mus minutoides. Mastomys natalensis was dominant and contributed more than 70% of the captures. In Namibia, five species were captured, namely Mastomys natalensis, Gerbilliscus leucogaster, Saccostomus campestris, Mus minutoides and Steatomys pratensis. Mastomys natalensis contributed about 50% of the captures. In Swaziland, only M. natalensis was captured in the study grids. There was a clear pattern in the population dynamics, with breeding confined to the wet seasons in the three countries. Mastomys natalensis was the dominant pest species, for which EBRM should focus on. The highest population density of M. natalensis occurred during and after the rains, which coincided with the most susceptible phenologicalstage of crops. The breeding seasonality and density fluctuations observed in the three countries conform with observations made elsewhere in Africa, which support the hypothesis that rainfall events promote primary productivity on which murid rodents depend. Development of EBRM in these countries will be determined by the local conditions and how they influence the demographic processes of the rodent populations. EBRM should make use of the available ecological knowledge of the local rodent pest species and the focus should be on (ecological) management practices applicable at the community level including community based intensive trapping, field hygiene, removing cover and sources of food for rodents.Key words: Tanzania, Swaziland, Namibia, recruitment, survival, capture–mark–recapture, pest management, Mastomys, Aethomys, Arvicanthis, Gerbilliscus, Acomys, Lemniscomys, Rattus, Graphiurus, Mus, Saccostomus, Steatomys. Article in Journal/Newspaper Rattus rattus AJOL - African Journals Online |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
AJOL - African Journals Online |
op_collection_id |
ftjafricanj |
language |
English |
topic |
Tanzania Swaziland Namibia recruitment survival capture–mark–recapture pest management Mastomys Aethomys Arvicanthis Gerbilliscus Acomys Lemniscomys Rattus Graphiurus Mus Saccostomus Steatomys |
spellingShingle |
Tanzania Swaziland Namibia recruitment survival capture–mark–recapture pest management Mastomys Aethomys Arvicanthis Gerbilliscus Acomys Lemniscomys Rattus Graphiurus Mus Saccostomus Steatomys Massawe, Apia W. Mulngu, Loth S. Mulungu Makundi, Rhodes H. Dlamini, Nomfundo Eiseb, Seth J. Kirsten, Frikkie Mahlaba, Themb’alilahlwa Malebane, Phanuel Von Maltitz, Emil Monadjem, Ara Taylor, Peter Tutjavi, Vassana Belmain, Steven R. Spatial and temporal population dynamics of rodents in three geographically different regions in Africa: Implication for ecologically-based rodent management† |
topic_facet |
Tanzania Swaziland Namibia recruitment survival capture–mark–recapture pest management Mastomys Aethomys Arvicanthis Gerbilliscus Acomys Lemniscomys Rattus Graphiurus Mus Saccostomus Steatomys |
description |
As part of a three-year study to develop ecologically-based rodent management (EBRM) in southern Africa, a capture–mark–recapture study was carried out in Tanzania, Namibia and Swaziland to establish the demographic patterns and population dynamics of rodents. Two study grids were established in each country. In Tanzania, ten species of rodents and one shrew (Crocidura sp.) were identified in the study area. The rodent species consisted of Mastomys natalensis, Aethomys chrysophilus, Arvicanthis neumanni, Gerbilliscus vicina, Acomys spinosissimus, Lemniscomys griselda, Lemniscomys zebra, Rattus rattus, Graphiurus sp. and Mus minutoides. Mastomys natalensis was dominant and contributed more than 70% of the captures. In Namibia, five species were captured, namely Mastomys natalensis, Gerbilliscus leucogaster, Saccostomus campestris, Mus minutoides and Steatomys pratensis. Mastomys natalensis contributed about 50% of the captures. In Swaziland, only M. natalensis was captured in the study grids. There was a clear pattern in the population dynamics, with breeding confined to the wet seasons in the three countries. Mastomys natalensis was the dominant pest species, for which EBRM should focus on. The highest population density of M. natalensis occurred during and after the rains, which coincided with the most susceptible phenologicalstage of crops. The breeding seasonality and density fluctuations observed in the three countries conform with observations made elsewhere in Africa, which support the hypothesis that rainfall events promote primary productivity on which murid rodents depend. Development of EBRM in these countries will be determined by the local conditions and how they influence the demographic processes of the rodent populations. EBRM should make use of the available ecological knowledge of the local rodent pest species and the focus should be on (ecological) management practices applicable at the community level including community based intensive trapping, field hygiene, removing cover and sources of food for rodents.Key words: Tanzania, Swaziland, Namibia, recruitment, survival, capture–mark–recapture, pest management, Mastomys, Aethomys, Arvicanthis, Gerbilliscus, Acomys, Lemniscomys, Rattus, Graphiurus, Mus, Saccostomus, Steatomys. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Massawe, Apia W. Mulngu, Loth S. Mulungu Makundi, Rhodes H. Dlamini, Nomfundo Eiseb, Seth J. Kirsten, Frikkie Mahlaba, Themb’alilahlwa Malebane, Phanuel Von Maltitz, Emil Monadjem, Ara Taylor, Peter Tutjavi, Vassana Belmain, Steven R. |
author_facet |
Massawe, Apia W. Mulngu, Loth S. Mulungu Makundi, Rhodes H. Dlamini, Nomfundo Eiseb, Seth J. Kirsten, Frikkie Mahlaba, Themb’alilahlwa Malebane, Phanuel Von Maltitz, Emil Monadjem, Ara Taylor, Peter Tutjavi, Vassana Belmain, Steven R. |
author_sort |
Massawe, Apia W. |
title |
Spatial and temporal population dynamics of rodents in three geographically different regions in Africa: Implication for ecologically-based rodent management† |
title_short |
Spatial and temporal population dynamics of rodents in three geographically different regions in Africa: Implication for ecologically-based rodent management† |
title_full |
Spatial and temporal population dynamics of rodents in three geographically different regions in Africa: Implication for ecologically-based rodent management† |
title_fullStr |
Spatial and temporal population dynamics of rodents in three geographically different regions in Africa: Implication for ecologically-based rodent management† |
title_full_unstemmed |
Spatial and temporal population dynamics of rodents in three geographically different regions in Africa: Implication for ecologically-based rodent management† |
title_sort |
spatial and temporal population dynamics of rodents in three geographically different regions in africa: implication for ecologically-based rodent management† |
publisher |
NISC (Pty) Ltd |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
https://www.ajol.info/index.php/az/article/view/154890 |
genre |
Rattus rattus |
genre_facet |
Rattus rattus |
op_source |
African Zoology; Vol 46, No 2 (2011); 393-405 2224-073X 1562-7020 |
op_relation |
https://www.ajol.info/index.php/az/article/view/154890/144471 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/az/article/view/154890 |
op_rights |
The copyright belongs to the Zoological Society of Southern Africa. |
_version_ |
1766177228562890752 |