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Food preferences of the multi-mammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis, in irrigated rice habitats in Tanzani

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dc.creator Malungu, L.S
dc.creator Mlyashimbi, E.C.M
dc.creator Ngowo, V
dc.creator Mdangi, M
dc.creator Katakweba, A.S.
dc.creator Tesha, P.
dc.date 2021-07-08T07:44:49Z
dc.date 2021-07-08T07:44:49Z
dc.date 2014-10-19
dc.date.accessioned 2022-10-25T08:50:50Z
dc.date.available 2022-10-25T08:50:50Z
dc.identifier Mulungu, L.S.et al.(2014) Food preferences of the multi-mammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis, in irrigated rice habitats in Tanzania: International Journal of Pest Management,Vol.60(1), 1-8.
dc.identifier https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/3637
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/90695
dc.description This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes.
dc.description We investigated the composition of the diet of the multi-mammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis, within irrigated rice and fallow field habitats at set time periods related to rice crop growth stages. In both habitats, vegetative plant material, i.e. leaves, stems and seeds, were the most abundant components of the rodent’s diet, while other food types (invertebrates, fruits) were observed only in low quantities. We conclude that vegetative plant material and seeds were the main types of food consumed not only due to their relatively higher abundance in the environments under study but also because of the highly specialised herbivorous/granivorous nature of the dominant rodent species, M. natalensis. Thus, the introduction and expansion of continuous rice-cropping using irrigation in Tanzania is likely to be severely constrained by the presence of M. natalensis. In our opinion, field hygiene, including the removal of alternative food resources and nesting sites for M. natalensis near cropping areas, may help to both lower rodent population numbers and reduce immigration potential. Non chemical rodent control methods such as trap barrier systems developed for lowland irrigated rice in south-eastern Asia should, we argue, be evaluated for their effectiveness under African conditions.
dc.description Tanzanian Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Fund (ZARDEF)
dc.format application/pdf
dc.language en
dc.publisher Taylor & Francis
dc.subject Breeding
dc.subject Diet
dc.subject Irrigation rice
dc.subject Rodents
dc.title Food preferences of the multi-mammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis, in irrigated rice habitats in Tanzani
dc.title Food preferences of the multi-mammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis, in irrigated rice habitats in Tanzania
dc.type Article


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