Relationships between seasonal changes in diet of Multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis) and its breeding patterns in semi-arid areas in Tanzania

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dc.creatorMakundi, Rhodes H
dc.creatorIsabirye, Moses
dc.creatorKifumba, David
dc.creatorMdangi, Mashaka E
dc.creatorNakiyemba, Alice
dc.creatorLeirs, Herwig
dc.creatorBelmain, Steven R
dc.creatorMulungu, Loth S
dc.creatorMassawe, Apia W
dc.creatorTarimo, , Akwilin J. P
dc.creatorKimaro, Didas N
dc.creatorMariën, Joachim
dc.creatorMlyashimbi, Emmanuel C. M
dc.date2022-06-09T05:48:51Z
dc.date2022-06-09T05:48:51Z
dc.date2018-09
dc.date.accessioned2022-10-25T08:53:40Z
dc.date.available2022-10-25T08:53:40Z
dc.descriptionThe diet and breeding patterns of Mastomys natalensis in semi-arid areas of Isimani division, Iringa region, Tanzania were investigated in maize fields and fallow land. The aim was to investigate the influence of diet on breeding patterns of M. natalensis. Removal trapping was used to capture rodents and analyse diet categories while Capture-mark-release trapping was used to investigate breeding patterns of female M. natalensis. Mastomys natalensis comprised 94% of the total capture, and the remaining 6% comprised of six other species. Statistical analysis of food preferences indicated that both vegetative materials and seeds were significantly higher in the overall diet of M. natalensis compared with other food materials. Significant differences in the proportions of vegetative materials and seeds were found between seasons (dry, wet), but not between habitats (fallow, maize). There was a clear seasonal pattern in the proportion of reproductively active females with peaks in April and troughs in October. The proportion of vegetative materials was highest during the wet season and correlated positively with reproductive activity, suggesting that vegetative materials contain certain compounds (e.g. 6-MBOA) that trigger reproductive activity in M. natalensis. The breeding activity of M. natalensis in semi-arid areas might, thus, be reduced by limiting access to fresh vegetative food (e.g. young sprouting grass).
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dc.formatapplication/pdf
dc.identifierhttps://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/4235
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/94004
dc.languageen
dc.publisherCogent food and agriculture
dc.subjectMastomys natalensis
dc.subjectTanzania
dc.subjectEnvironment & Agriculture
dc.subjectPlant & Animal Ecology
dc.subjectZoology
dc.subjectEnvironmental Studies
dc.subjectManagement
dc.subjectBreeding
dc.subjectDiet
dc.subjectRodent pest
dc.subjectSemi-arid
dc.titleRelationships between seasonal changes in diet of Multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis) and its breeding patterns in semi-arid areas in Tanzania
dc.typeArticle

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