Observations on the reproductive biology and early post-natal development of two species of African rodents

Cheeseman, Graeme

doi:10.1515/mamm.1981.45.4.483

Cited by 7 publications

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“…D., 1978), Grammomys surdaster (Bland, 1973), Aethomys spp. (Cheeseman, 1981), Lemniscomys striatus (Petter, Chippaux & Monmignaut, 1964), and Rhabdomys pumilio (Dewsbury, Ferguson & Webster, 1984).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…That the desert and semidesert Pseudomys and Notomys species do not have unusually small litters when compared to some other members of the Murinae occurring outside the Australian land mass is evident from a cursory look at the data from Africa where a mean litter size of four or less is evident for Thamnomys cometes (Hanney, 1965), T. dolichurus (Delany, 1971), T. rutilans (Delany, 1971;Happold, D. C. D., 1974), Aethomys spp. (Hanney, 1965;Meester & Hallett, 1970;Delany, 1971;Brooks, 1972;Cheeseman, 1981), Acomys spp. (Dieterlan, 1961;Hanney, 1965), Hybomys univittatus (Delany, 1971), H. triziirgatus (Happold, D. C. D., 1974), Pelomys fallax (Kingdon, 1974), Thallomys paedulcus (Brooks, 1972;Meester & Hallett, 1970), Lophuromys Jlavopunctatus and L. sikapusi (Hanney, 1965; Delany, I97 I ; Happold, D. C. D., 1974), Praomys (Hylomyscus) stella, P. jacksoni, P. morio and P. tullhergi (Hanney, 1965;Delany, 1971;Happold, D. C .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparative studies on the reproductive biology of three species of laboratory bred Australian conilurine rodents (Muridae: Hydromyinae)

Breed

1989

Journal of Zoology

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The reproductive biological parameters of laboratory bred and maintained individuals from three species of Australian conilurine rodents, Notomys alexis, Pseudomys australis and P. nanus were determined. Considerable' divergence was found in interbirth intervals (indicative of gestation length) in nonsuckling and suckling mothers, litter size, growth rate of pups, age at weaning, and time of sexual maturity in both males and females. It is concluded that selection has been for rapid production and development of young in P. nanus, whereas in P. australis and, especially N. alexis, litter size has been maximized within the constraints of the mammary formula. These data further emphasize the high degree of plasticity of the reproductive system in this assemblage of old endemic murid rodents of Australasia.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative studies on the reproductive biology of three species of laboratory bred Australian conilurine rodents (Muridae: Hydromyinae)

Breed

1989

Journal of Zoology

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“…Net annual production between April 1972 and March 1973 was 5897 g/ha/year and for the period October 1972 to September 1973,7072 g/ha/year. For most species breeding was seasonal (Neal, 1977a(Neal, , 1977bCheeseman & Delany, 1979;Cheeseman, 1981) taking place during and immediately after the wet periods. Even so, this did not invariably manifest itself in seasonal increases in numbers with Lemniscomys (density range 8-14/ha), Mus triton (1-5/ha) and Zelotomys (1-2/ha) showing little fluctuation.…”

Section: Community Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology of small rodents in Africa

Delany¹

1986

Mammal Review

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This account considers progress in research on small rodent ecology since about 1970. While some ecological survey has been undertaken throughout much of the continent, the main research thrust has involved the detailed examination of population processes in a range of habitats from deserts to tropical rain forests. The deserts and semi‐arid regions support a range of species with some better adapted to these harsh conditions than others. The adaptations manifest themselves in different life history strategies e.g., opportunistic with high turnover species, or low turnover‐low reproduction species, in their physiology e.g., adaption to water retention, and in their behaviour e.g., avoiding heat of day. Long term studies show large numerical fluctuations with a quick response by some species to favourable conditions caused by relatively high precipitation. In the savanna and grasslands, studies have centred on population dynamics, the relationship between food and breeding, reproductive and life history strategies and the determination of niche. These have been approached through the study of groups of species in particular localities as well as by the examination of individual species. In these habitats populations are more stable and less erratic than in semi‐arid regions. Perturbations, particularly fire, can have various effects on the numbers and species composition of the disturbed area. In the tropical rain forest population fluctuations are modest and may take up to 2–3 years to pass from a peak to a trough and back again. Breeding typically extends over much of the year with, apparently, the greatest number of rodents occurring on the ground surface. Bush and temporary farms derived as a result of forest modification support more animals (and often more species) than forest. The niches occupied by forest rodents are poorly understood and very little is known of the ecology within the canopy. In most localities a small number of species are abundant and the remainder much less frequent.

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“…The timing of developmental stages follows a general pattern similar to that observed in several Microtus species (Nadeau 1985), age at weaning (15 days) being intermediate in the range observed for the genus (9-30 days; Innes and Millar 1994), although the incisors erupt a little earlier and the eyes open a little later than the average. Based on our data, M. cabrerae seems to be an altricial species, although it is intermediate among other small mammals that are clearly precocial or altricial (Cheeseman 1981;Dempster et al 1992).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 50%

Reproduction and postnatal growth of the Cabrera vole, Microtus cabrerae, in captivity

Fernández-Salvador¹,

García-Perea²,

Ventura³

2001

Can. J. Zool.

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Three pairs of the endangered Cabrera vole, Microtus cabrerae, which is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, were captured in the wild and reared in captivity. They did not breed under standard laboratory conditions, and bred only under conditions similar to those found in wild colonies. Six litters were obtained and a total of 24 pups were monitored. Five external variables were measured and timing of 11 developmental events was recorded for each pup until it was 80 days old. Litter size was 4.0 ± 0.89 (mean ± SE; range = 3-5) pups per female, falling within the range reported for other Microtus species. Litter size of M. cabrerae was lower in the laboratory than in the field. Female body mass was correlated with litter mass at birth. Newborns were heavy (3.5 g, on average) compared with those of other Microtus species because of the relatively large size of adult M. cabrerae. Timing of the main developmental events followed a similar pattern to that observed for other species of the genus. Juvenile M. cabrerae grew fast in length during lactation, rapidly increasing their body mass during postweaning. Observations on parental behaviour in rearing pups support the previously published hypothesis that the species is monogamous. A global assessment of our results suggests that M. cabrerae should be included among the species that use the K strategy of reproduction.Résumé : Trois couples de Campagnols de Cabrera, Microtus cabrerae, espèce menacée et endémique dans la Péninsule ibérique, ont été capturés en nature et élevés en captivité. Ces campagnols ne se sont pas reproduits dans l'environnement normal de laboratoire, mais seulement lorsque les conditions qui prévalent dans les colonies naturelles ont pu être simulées. Ils ont produit six portées et, au total, 24 petits ont été suivis. Cinq variables externes ont été mesurées et la chronologie de 11 étapes du développement a été notée pour chacun des individus jusqu'à l'âge de 80 jours. Le nombre moyen de petits par portée était de 4,0 ± 0,89 (moyenne ± écart type; étendue de 3 à 5) par femelle, ce qui correspond à ce qui prévaut chez d'autres espèces de Microtus. Les portées de M. cabrerae comptaient moins de petits en laboratoire qu'en nature. Il y avait une corrélation positive entre la masse des femelles et la masse des portées à la naissance. Les nouveau-nés étaient lourds (3,5 g en moyenne) comparativement à d'autres Microtus, à cause de la taille relativement grande des adultes. La chronologie des principales étapes du développement était la même que chez les autres espèces de Microtus. Les jeunes M. cabrerae subissaient une croissance en longueur rapide au cours de l'allaitement et une augmentation de masse au cours de la période suivante. L'observation du comportement des parents durant l'élevage des petits apporte des arguments en faveur de l'hypothèse de la monogamie de cette espèce, telle que publiée antérieurement. Une évaluation globale de nos résultats permet de croire que M. cabrerae fait partie des espèces qui utilisent la stratégie K au cours de le...

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Observations on the reproductive biology and early post-natal development of two species of African rodents

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

Comparative studies on the reproductive biology of three species of laboratory bred Australian conilurine rodents (Muridae: Hydromyinae)

Comparative studies on the reproductive biology of three species of laboratory bred Australian conilurine rodents (Muridae: Hydromyinae)

Ecology of small rodents in Africa

Reproduction and postnatal growth of the Cabrera vole, Microtus cabrerae, in captivity

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