Species Composition, Abundance and Diet of Rodents in Chilelo Irrigated Field, Legedaddi Area, Ethiopia
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Date
2007-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
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
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Keywords
Irrigated field, rodents, Species composition