SPATIAL DYNAMICS OF MASTOMYS NATALENSIS IN A FIELD-FALLOW MOSAIC IN TANZANIA.

Abstract

The population dynamics of Mastomys natalensis rats is reported for a 3-year study of monthly CMR-trapping in a small scale maize field-fallow land mosaic in Tanzania. The seasonal evolution of rodent presence was the same in both habitat types and it was not affected by agricul- tural activities in the fields. About one week after planting, there was a short increase of rodent cap- tures in the maize fields, but this disappeared again after a few days. Recolonisation of fields was achieved very fast after a rodent control operation. Radiotelemetry indicated that many individuals were active in the maize field as well as in the fallow land. We concluded that, in a small scale set- up, the field and fallow land rodent populations are not separated and the latter should not be con- sidered as necessary refuges. This renders several rodent control approaches unsuitable.