Browsing by Author "Osman Azied"

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    Species Composition, Abundance and Diet of Rodents in Chilelo Irrigated Field, Legedaddi Area, Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2007-07) Osman Azied; Bekele Afework (Professor)
    An ecological study on the population dynamics of rodents was carried out in the Legedaddi Chilelo irrigated and non-irrigated agricultural field and bushland from June 2006 to January 2007. Two trapping grids were selected randomly in the irrigated field and additional two with non-irrigated field. An additional trapping grid was selected in the nearby bushland. A total of 166 captures were made in 3675 trap nights in live traps and 30 individuals of small mammals were snap trapped. Mastomys natalensis (42.8%) was the most dominant species followed by Arvicanthis dembeensis (38.6%) and Stenocephalemys albipes (18.6%). The abundance of rodent species varied among the Chilelo irrigated and non-irrigated agricultural field and bushland. There were statistically significant seasonal variations in the abundance of the rodent species. Similar species composition was obtained during different seasons and habitats. All age groups were represented in the population of the obtained species. There was significant variation in trap success among different habitat types. The diets of the rodents from the stomach content analysis of snap trapped individual showed plant matter with few animal matters. The density and biomass of rodents were high in the irrigated field and least in the bushland. The density in irrigated field was 246/ha. However, the density in non-irrigated field and bushland were 72/ha and 20/ha, respectively. There was high population of rodents in the first two trapping sessions. Key word: Irrigated field; rodents;species composition