Dietary differences of the multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis (Smith, 1834), across different habitats and seasons in Tanzania and Swaziland
Loth S. Mulungu A G , Themb’alilahlwa A. Mahlaba B , Apia W. Massawe A , Jan Kennis C , Dieter Crauwels C , Seth Eiseb D , Ara Monadjem B , Rhodes H. Makundi A , Abdul A. S. Katakweba A , Herwig Leirs C E and Steven R. Belmain FA Pest Management Centre, Sokoine University of Agriculture, PO Box 3110, Morogoro, Tanzania.
B Department of Biological Sciences, University of Swaziland, Private Bag 4, Kwaluseni, Swaziland.
C University of Antwerp, Evolutionary Ecology Group, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerpen, Belgium.
D National Museum of Namibia, PO Box 1203, Windhoek, Namibia.
E Danish Pest Infestation Laboratory, University of Aarhus, Department of Integrated Pest Management, Skovbrynet 14, DK-2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
F Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK.
G Corresponding author. Email: lothmulungu@yahoo.co.uk
Wildlife Research 38(7) 640-646 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR11028
Submitted: 10 February 2011 Accepted: 4 August 2011 Published: 30 November 2011
Abstract
Context: The multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis (Smith, 1834), is an important agricultural pest in southern and eastern Africa where it can cause significant crop losses. Mastomys natalensis is known to consume a variety of food in response to the availability of food items. However, it is currently unknown whether maize crop growth stages affect the spatio-temporal diet of this species.
Aims: We examined the foods consumed by M. natalensis in different habitats and seasons in central Tanzania and Swaziland.
Methods: Diet was investigated in Tanzania in four different habitats (woodland, vegetable gardens, maize fields and fallow land) during different maize crop growth stages between March 2008 and February 2009. In Swaziland, this was conducted in three habitats (fallow land, cultivated fields and pristine land) during three crop growth stages (pre-planting, vegetative stage and post-harvest) between March 2008 and April 2009. Micro-histological examination of undigested fragments from the stomachs of trapped animals was made whereby the preserved stomach content was placed in a Petri dish and sorted using a 25× or 50× magnification binocular stereoscope. Stomach contents were identified as: grain and/or seeds (both grasses and maize), plant material (roots, stems and leaves), invertebrates, pods of seeds, fruits (vegetable fruit such as tomato), animal hairs and unidentified matter. If necessary, a lugol solution was used to determine the presence of starch for maize and grass seeds or grains.
Key results: In both countries, grain predominated in the diet of M. natalensis. Statistical analyses showed that there were no differences due to seasons or habitats. Therefore, the percentage volume and relative importance were the same across habitats and seasons in both countries.
Conclusions: Our findings highlight clearly that M. natalensis is a generalist species feeding on available resources depending on the season and the habitat. Its preference for grain may account for its abundance in maize plantations and confirms it as one of the major pests in crop plantations, especially grain.
Implications: This information offers a useful tool for determining the pest status in different habitats and/or seasons. The findings of this study have implications for agriculture and conservation.
References
Bomford, C. A. (1987). Food and reproduction of wild house mice. II. A field experiment to examine the effect of food availability and food quality on breeding in spring. Australian Wildlife Research 14, 197–206.| Food and reproduction of wild house mice. II. A field experiment to examine the effect of food availability and food quality on breeding in spring.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cooper, R. L., and Skinner, J. D. (1978). Importance of termites in the diet of the aardwolf Proteles cristatus in South Africa. South African Journal of Zoology 14, 5–8.
Delany, M. J. (1964). A study of the ecology and breeding of small mammals in Uganda. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 142, 347–370.
| A study of the ecology and breeding of small mammals in Uganda.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dippenaar, N. J., Swanepoel, P., and Gordon, D. H. (1993). Diagnostic morphometrics of two medically important southern Africa rodents, Mastomys natalensis and M. coucha (Rodentia: Muridae). South African Journal of Science 89, 300–303.
Ebersole, J. P., and Wilson, J. C. (1980). Optimal foraging: the responses of Peromyscus leucopus to experimental changes in processing time and hunger. Oecologia 46, 80–85.
| Optimal foraging: the responses of Peromyscus leucopus to experimental changes in processing time and hunger.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Field, A. C. (1975). Seasonal changes in reproduction, diet and body composition of two equatorial rodents. East Africa Wildlife Journal 13, 221–235.
Forsman, A., and Lindell, L. E. (1997). Responses of a predator to variation in prey abundance; survival and emigration of adders in relation to vole density. Canadian Journal of Zoology 75, 1099–1108.
| Responses of a predator to variation in prey abundance; survival and emigration of adders in relation to vole density.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jung, H. J. G., and Batzli, G. O. (1981). Nutritional ecology of microtine rodents: effects of plant extracts on the growth of arctic microtine. Journal of Mammalogy 62, 286–292.
| Nutritional ecology of microtine rodents: effects of plant extracts on the growth of arctic microtine.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Krebs, C. J. (1989). ‘Niche Overlaps and Diet Analysis. Ecological Methodology.’ (Harper and Row: New York, NY.)
Lack, P. C. (1986). Diurnal and seasonal variation in biomass of arthropods in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya. African Journal of Ecology 24, 47–51.
| Diurnal and seasonal variation in biomass of arthropods in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Leirs, H., and Verheyen, W. (1995). ‘Population Ecology of Mastomys natalensis (Smith 1834). Implications for Rodent Control in Africa.’ Agricultural Editions No. 35. (Belgium Administration for Development Cooperation: Brussels.)
Levins, R. (1968). ‘Evolution in Changing Environments.’ (Princeton University Press: Princeton, NJ.)
Lind, A. J., and Welsh, H. H. (1994). Ontogenetic changes in foraging behaviour and habitat use by the Oregon garter snake, Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus. Animal Behaviour 48, 1261–1273.
| Ontogenetic changes in foraging behaviour and habitat use by the Oregon garter snake, Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Linn, I. J. (1991). Influence of 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone and green vegetation on reproduction of the multimammate rat Mastomys coucha. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 21, 33–37.
Litvaitis, J. A. (2000). Investigating food habits of terrestrial vertebrates. In ‘Research Techniques in Animal Ecology’. (Eds L. Boitani and T. K. Fuller.) pp. 165–190. (Columbia University Press: New York, NY.)
Makundi, R. H., Oguge, N. O., and Mwanjabe, P. S. (1999). Rodent pest management in east Africa – an ecological approach. In ‘Ecologically-Based Rodent Management’. (Eds G. R. Singleton, L. Hinds, H. Leirs and Z. Zhang.) pp. 460–476. (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research: Canberra.)
Makundi, R. H., Massawe, A. W., Mulungu, L. S., and Katakweba, A. (2010). Species diversity and population dynamics of rodents in farm-fallow field mosaic systems in central Tanzania. African Journal of Ecology 48, 313–320.
| Species diversity and population dynamics of rodents in farm-fallow field mosaic systems in central Tanzania.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mdangi, M. (2009). Assessment of rodent damage to maize (Zea mays L.) in the field and stores at Berega Village, in Kilosa District Tanzania. Masters Thesis, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.
Monadjem, A. (1997a). Habitat differences and biomasses of small mammals in Swaziland. African Journal of Ecology 35, 64–72.
| Habitat differences and biomasses of small mammals in Swaziland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Monadjem, A. (1997b). Stomach contents of 19 species of small mammals from Swaziland. South African Journal of Zoology 32, 23–26.
Monadjem, A. (1998). Reproductive biology, age structure and diet of Mastomys natalensis (Muridae: Rodentia) and other rodents in a Swaziland grassland. Zeitschrift fur Saugetierkunde 63, 347–356.
Monadjem, A. (1999). Population dynamics of Mus minutoides and Steatomys pratensis (Muridae: Rodentia) in a subtropical grassland in Swaziland. African Journal of Ecology 37, 202–210.
| Population dynamics of Mus minutoides and Steatomys pratensis (Muridae: Rodentia) in a subtropical grassland in Swaziland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Monadjem, A., and Perrin, M. R. (1998). Effects of food supplementation and fire on small mammal community structure in a Swaziland grassland. South African Journal of Science 94, 89–93.
Monadjem, A., and Perrin, M. (2003). Population fluctuations and community structure in a Swaziland grassland over a 3-year period. African Zoology 38, 127–137.
Monath, T. P. (1975). Lassafever: review of epidemiology and epizootiology. Bulletin WHO 52, 577–592.
| 1:STN:280:DyaE283lsFyrsw%3D%3D&md5=7f1d817ec3dd1e510fab56fc6548ffd0CAS |
Mulungu, L. S., Makundi, R. H., Leirs, H., Massawe, A. W., Vibe-Petersen, S., and Stenseth, N. C. (2003). The rodent density-damage function in maize fields at an early growth stage. In ‘Rats, Mice and People: Rodent Biology and Management’. (Eds G. R. Singleton, L. A. Hinds, C. J. Krebs and D. M. Spratt.) pp. 301–303. (Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research: Canberra.)
Mulungu, L. S., Makundi, R. H., Massawe, A. W., Machangu, R. S., and Mbije, N. E. (2008). Diversity and distribution of rodent and shrew species associated with variations in altitude on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Mammalia 72, 178–185.
| Diversity and distribution of rodent and shrew species associated with variations in altitude on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mwanjabe, P. S. (1993). The role of weeds on population dynamics of Mastomys natalensis in Chunya (Lake Rukwa) valley. In ‘Economic Importance and Control of Rodents in Tanzania’. Workshop proceedings. (Ed. R. S. Machang’u.) pp. 34–42. (Sokoine University of Agriculture: Morogoro, Tanzania.)
Mwanjabe, P. S., and Leirs, H. (1997). An early warning system for IPM-based rodent control in smallholder farming systems in Tanzania. Belgian Journal of Zoology 127, 49–58.
Mwanjabe, P. S., Sirima, F. B., and Lusingu, J. (2002). Crop losses due to outbreaks of Mastomys natalensis (Smith, 1834) Muridae, Rodentia, in the Lindi region of Tanzania. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 49, 133–137.
| Crop losses due to outbreaks of Mastomys natalensis (Smith, 1834) Muridae, Rodentia, in the Lindi region of Tanzania.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Neal, B. R. (1996). Reproductive response of Tatera leucogaster (Rodentia) to supplemental food, water, and 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone. Mammalia 60, 651–666.
| Reproductive response of Tatera leucogaster (Rodentia) to supplemental food, water, and 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Odhiambo, R. O., Makundi, R. H., Leirs, H., and Verhagen, R. (2008). Dietary selection in Mastomys natalensis (Rodentia: Muridae) in the maize agro-ecosystems of central and southwestern Tanzania. Mammalia 72, 169–177.
| Dietary selection in Mastomys natalensis (Rodentia: Muridae) in the maize agro-ecosystems of central and southwestern Tanzania.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Oguge, N. O. (1995). Diet, seasonal abundance and microhabitats of Praomys (Mastomys) natalensis (Rodentia: Muridae) and other small rodents in a Kenyan sub-humid grassland community. African Journal of Ecology 33, 211–223.
| Diet, seasonal abundance and microhabitats of Praomys (Mastomys) natalensis (Rodentia: Muridae) and other small rodents in a Kenyan sub-humid grassland community.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Petraitis, P. S. (1979). Likelihood measures of niche breadth and overlap. Ecology 60, 703–710.
| Likelihood measures of niche breadth and overlap.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rabiu, S., and Rose, R. K. (1997). A quantitative study of diet in three species of rodents in natural and irrigated savanna fields. Acta Theriologica 42, 55–70.
Reinert, H. K. (1993). Habitat selection in snakes. In ‘Snakes: Ecology and Behavior’. (Eds R. A. Seigel and J. T. Collins.) pp. 211–215. (McGraw-Hill: New York, NY.)
Smith, V. R., Avenant, N. L., and Chown, S. L. (2002). The diet and impact of house mice on a sub-Antarctic island. Polar Biology 25, 703–715.
Stanley, W. T., and Hutterer, R. (2007). Differences in abundance and species richness between shrews and rodents along an elevational gradient in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. Acta Theriologica 52, 261–275.
| Differences in abundance and species richness between shrews and rodents along an elevational gradient in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Swanepoel, C. M. (1980). Some factors influencing the breeding season of Praomys natalensis. South African Journal of Zoology 15, 95–98.
Taylor, K. D., and Green, M. G. (1976). The influence of rainfall on diet and reproduction in four African rodent species. Journal of Zoology 180, 367–389.
| The influence of rainfall on diet and reproduction in four African rodent species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaE2s7hs1CktQ%3D%3D&md5=1bfeda60e647d96c3b8d74ddfa6d7661CAS |
White, R. M., and Bernard, R. T. F. (1996). Secondary plant compound and photoperiod influences on the reproduction of two southern African rodent species, Gerbillurus paeba and Saccostomus campestris. Mammalia 60, 639–650.
| Secondary plant compound and photoperiod influences on the reproduction of two southern African rodent species, Gerbillurus paeba and Saccostomus campestris.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
