Browsing by Author "Mrosso, Furaha Philemon"

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Reproduction and breeding patterns arvicanthis neumanni in central Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2004) Mrosso, Furaha Philemon
The population structure, reproduction and breeding patterns of the grass rat, Arvicanthis neumanni were investigated through Capture Mark Release (CMR) and removal trapping in Msingisi and Ihanda villages (Kilosa and Kongwa districts respectively) in Central Tanzania. Rodents in CMR grids were trapped using Sherman live traps in one 100 m x 100 m grid in each village. Animals in removal grids were captured using local traps and digging. A total of 947 animals were captured in the removal grids. A total of 49 captures and recaptures were made in the CMR grids at Msingisi belonging to 5 species in 3000 trap nights. Ninety-one captures and recaptures of rodents belonging to 5 species were made at Ihanda. The highest trap success was recorded between December and March. Three age groups, juveniles, sub adults and adults, were present in the population in most of the trapping months. However, there was a high increase in the number of juveniles and reproductively active adults two to three months after the onset of the rains (December, 2002 - May, 2003) indicating a peak in reproductive activity, between January and April. Litter size was between 5.58 ± 0.42 and 6.1 ± 0.26 in the two study sites respectively. There were no significant differences in the number of embryos implanted in the right and left horns of the uterus of pregnant females (t22 = 0, P > 0.05) and (t36 = 1.68, P > 0.05). Sex ratio of A. neumanni was not skewed to either males or females. Since breeding patterns are some of the requirements for sound ecological knowledge in controlling rodents, this study calls for further investigations especially on breeding patterns of A. neumanni in different locations for comparison with the current study.