Ecology of the Giant Molerat, Tachyoryctes Macrocephalus (Rüppell, 1842) With Emphasis on the Feeding Ecology from the Sanetti Plateau of Bale Mountains National Park (Bmnp), Ethiopia

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2007-03

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

Studies on the feeding ecology, habitat use, activity pattern, and structure of the burrow system and population density of the giant molerats were carried out on Sanetti Plateau, BMNP from March, 2006 to January, 2007 covering both wet and dry seasons. The consumed plant materials and hay pile components from ten samples indicated that Alchemilla abyssinica and Festuca species were the major food items in terms of percentage frequency and dietary occurrence. Stomach contents from four animals and ten faecal samples showed higher percentage of dicots than monocots (Χ2 = 23.8, df = 1, P< 0.01). In addition, different species of dicots were also consumed. Although there was a preference of occurrence, all plant materials surrounding the feeding holes were gathered. A large proportion (75. 6%) of time was spent under the ground compared to above ground activities. Out of the above ground activities, feeding consumed larger time compared to time spent for observation and digging. There was no significant difference on size and length of the burrow system between wet and dry seasons as well as between more and less populated areas(Χ2 = .0.4, df= 1, P > 0.05). The mean estimated population density from ten plots was 6545/ km.2 Giant molerat is a solitary animal, which mutually interacts with the alpine chat.

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Biology

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