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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Date
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