Experimental treatment-control studies of ecologically based rodent management in Africa: balancing conservation and pest management
Peter J. Taylor A F H , Sarah Downs F , Ara Monadjem E , Seth J. Eiseb C , Loth S. Mulungu D , Apia W. Massawe D , Themb’a A. Mahlaba E , Frikkie Kirsten G , Emil Von Maltitz G , Phanuel Malebane G , Rhodes H. Makundi D , Jennifer Lamb F and Steven R. Belmain B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Ecology & Resource Management, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa.
B Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK.
C National Museum of Namibia, PO Box 1203, Windhoek, Namibia.
D Pest Management Centre, Sokoine University of Agriculture, PO Box 3110, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania.
E Department of Biological Sciences, University of Swaziland, Private Bag 4, Kwaluseni, Swaziland.
F School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa.
G Agricultural Research Council, Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, Queenswood 0121, South Africa.
H Corresponding author. Email: Peter.Taylor@univen.ac.za
Wildlife Research 39(1) 51-61 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR11111
Submitted: 30 June 2011 Accepted: 24 November 2011 Published: 27 February 2012
Abstract
Context Rodent pests severely affect crop production, particularly in monocultures where one or two rodent pest species dominate. We predict higher species richness of native small mammal species in more heterogeneous mosaic (crop–fallow–bush) subsistence agro-ecosystems in Africa. Conservation and agro-ecological imperatives require that such diverse natural communities should be maintained and may benefit crop protection through limiting domination of pest species. Ecologically based rodent-management alternatives to rodenticides are urgently required and one such method (community trapping) is herein advocated.
Aims To provide baseline information on rodent and shrew communities in agro-ecosystems in three African countries and to demonstrate efficacy of ecologically based rodent management (EBRM) in Africa (e.g. community household trapping).
Methods Removal-trapping in a variety of agro-ecological habitats provided accurate small-mammal species lists. Intensive kill-trapping by rural agricultural communities was carried out experimentally where the efforts of communities were scientifically monitored by kill-trapping to measure impact on rodent numbers and the levels of post-harvest damage to stored grains.
Key results Our study revealed a high diversity of endemic species in agricultural habitats in Tanzania and Namibia (but not Swaziland) and the existence of undescribed and possibly rare species, some of which may be at risk of extinction from unchecked habitat transformation for agriculture. Treatment-control studies showed that communities in three African countries could effectively reduce pest rodent populations and rodent damage by intensive trapping on a daily basis in and around the community.
Conclusions Community trapping reduced pest rodent populations and damage to stored grains. Unlike the use of indiscriminate rodenticide, this practice is expected to have a negligible effect on beneficial non-target rodent and shrew species.
Implications Ecologically based rodent management approaches such as community trapping will conserve beneficial non-pest rodent communities and ultimately improve crop protection.
Additional keywords: Africa, DNA bar-coding, EBRM, ecology, management, rodents, taxonomy.
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