Habitat use by radio‐tagged Namib Desert golden moles (<i>Eremitalpa granti namibensis</i>)

Rathbun, Galen B.; Rathbun, Carolyn D.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2028.2006.00704.x

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Annual rainfall on the farm ranged between 3 and 253 mm (median = 94 mm) between 1967 and 2008. More than 70% of rain falls between January and March (Rathbun & Rathbun, 2006) and no rain falls between May and September. Thus, there was no rain in winter 2007, but there was 173 mm of rain in summer 2008.…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Cape ground squirrels as ecosystem engineers: modifying habitat for plants, small mammals and beetles in Namib Desert grasslands

et al. 2016

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Burrowing and foraging of semi-fossorial rodents can affect species distribution and composition. Ground squirrels dig large burrow systems for refuge from predators and temperature extremes. Burrowing and foraging around burrows by squirrels may affect habitat and resource distributions for other organisms. We examined the impact of Cape ground squirrels (Xerus inauris) on vegetation, small mammals and beetles during winter and summer in grasslands on the edge of the Namib Desert. At each burrow system and paired control site without burrows, we estimated plant cover and height using quadrats (N = 8 paired sites), small mammal abundance and species richness using mark-recapture techniques (N = 8 paired sites) and beetle abundance and species richness using pitfall traps (N = 6 paired sites, winter only). Squirrel burrowing and foraging activities resulted in lower plant cover and height, higher small mammal abundance and lower beetle abundance and species richness. Squirrels also reduced more plant cover in winter compared to summer, but had no effect on small mammal species richness. Furthermore, plant cover and height were higher in summer, whereas small mammal abundance and species richness were higher in winter. Our results suggest that Cape ground squirrels are important ecosystem engineers that influence plant and animal communities in the Namib Desert grasslands. Zumpt, I.F. (1968) The feeding habits of the yellow mongoose, Cynictus penicillata the suricate, Suricata suricatta and the Cape ground squirrel, Xerus inauris.

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Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Cape ground squirrels as ecosystem engineers: modifying habitat for plants, small mammals and beetles in Namib Desert grasslands

et al. 2016

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“…The insight into daily activity patterns in the current study is complemented by recent work by Rathbun & Rathbun (2007) on the activity of the Namib Desert golden mole ( E. g. namibensis ). Using small radio transmitters glued into the animals' fur, activity and movement of individual animals was monitored at sunrise, midday and sunset.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Insights into torpor and behavioural thermoregulation of the endangered Juliana's golden mole

et al. 2009

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The cryptic, subterranean ways of golden moles (Chrysochloridae) hamper studies of their biology in the field. Ten species appear on the IUCN red list, but the dearth of information available for most inhibits effective conservation planning. New techniques are consequently required to further our understanding and facilitate informed conservation management decisions. We studied the endangered Juliana's golden mole Neamblysomus julianae and aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using implantable temperature sensing transmitters to remotely acquire physiological and behavioural data. We also aimed to assess potential body temperature (T b ) fluctuations in relation to ambient soil temperature (T a ) in order to assess the potential use of torpor. Hourly observations revealed that T b was remarkably changeable, ranging from 27 to 33 1C. In several instances T b declined during periods of low T a . Such 'shallow torpor' may result in a daily energy saving of c. 20%. Behavioural thermoregulation was used during periods of high T a by selecting cooler microclimates, while passive heating was used to raise T b early morning when T a was increasing. In contrast to anecdotal reports of nocturnal patterns of activity, our results suggest that activity is flexible, being primarily dependent on T a . These results exemplify how behavioural patterns and microclimatic conditions can be examined in this and other subterranean mammal species, the results of which can be used in the urgently required conservation planning of endangered Chrysochlorid species.

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Habitat use by radio‐tagged Namib Desert golden moles (Eremitalpa granti namibensis)

Cited by 2 publications

References 12 publications

Cape ground squirrels as ecosystem engineers: modifying habitat for plants, small mammals and beetles in Namib Desert grasslands

Cape ground squirrels as ecosystem engineers: modifying habitat for plants, small mammals and beetles in Namib Desert grasslands

Insights into torpor and behavioural thermoregulation of the endangered Juliana's golden mole

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