Species composition and community structure of small pest rodents (Muridae) in cultivated and fallow fields in maize-growing areas in Mayuge district, Eastern Uganda.

摘要: Pest rodents remain key biotic constraints to cereal crops production in the East African region where they occur, especially seasons of outbreaks. Despite that, Uganda has scant information on as crop pests guide effective management strategies.A capture-mark-recapture (CMR) technique was employed study ecology small rodents, specifically establish species composition and community structure a maize-based agro ecosystem. Trapping conducted permanent fallow land cultivated fields, with each category replicated twice making four grids. At field, 60 × 60 m grid measured marked trapping points spaced at 10 × 10 m, total 49 points/grids. monthly 4-week interval for three consecutive days two half years using Sherman live traps.Eleven identified rodent one insectivorous mammal were recorded Mastomys natalensis being most dominant (over 60.7%). Other Mus triton (16.1%), Aethomys hendei (6.7%), Lemniscomys zebra (5.2%), Lophuromys sikapusi (4.8%), Arvicanthis niloticus (0.9%), Gerbilliscus kempi (0.1%), Graphiurus murinus Steatomys parvus Dasymys incomtus Grammomys dolichurus (0.1%). Spatially, richness differed significantly (p = 0.0001) between studied field habitats higher compared fields.Temporally, abundance showed significant interaction effect over months, years, fields (p = 0.001) abundances during months wet first third year trapping. In terms structure, diversity associated more but also certain rare found only fields.Synthesis applications. Based these findings, strategies can be designed target pest vulnerable thus reducing impact inflict crops.