Skip to content
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Dietary differences of the multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis (Smith, 1834), across different habitats and seasons in Tanzania and Swaziland
Wildlife Research, Volume 38, No. 7, Year 2011
Notification
URL copied to clipboard!
Description
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. © 2011 CSIRO.
Authors & Co-Authors
Mulungu, Loth S.A.
Tanzania, Morogoro
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Mahlaba, Themb'Alilahlwa A.M.
Swaziland, Mbabane
University of Eswatini
Massawe, Apia W.
Tanzania, Morogoro
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Kennis, Jan
Belgium, Antwerpen
Universiteit Antwerpen
Crauwels, Dieter
Belgium, Antwerpen
Universiteit Antwerpen
Eiseb, Seth J.
Namibia, Windhoek
National Museum of Namibia
Monadjem, Ara
Swaziland, Mbabane
University of Eswatini
Makundi, Rhodes H.
Tanzania, Morogoro
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Katakweba, Abdul S.
Tanzania, Morogoro
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Leirs, Herwig
Belgium, Antwerpen
Universiteit Antwerpen
Denmark, Lyngby
Danish Pest Infestation Laboratory
Belmain, Steven R.
United Kingdom, Chatham
Natural Resources Institute
Statistics
Citations: 47
Authors: 11
Affiliations: 6
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1071/WR11028
ISSN:
10353712
Research Areas
Food Security
Study Locations
Eswatini
Tanzania