Publication
Title
Survival and movement of the Congo forest mouse (Deomys ferrugineus) : a comparison of primary rainforest and fallow land in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo
Author
Abstract
The Congo forest mouse, Deomys ferrugineus, occurs readily in natural and human-altered habitats in the region of Kisangani (Democratic Republic of Congo). We studied survival and movement patterns of D. ferrugineus in both habitats. Capture-mark-recapture was used to study the effects of habitat on rodent life history both in primary rainforest and fallow land. Survival analyses taking into account trap-happiness effects were conducted using the program MARK. Abundance of D. ferrugineus was generally low within all our study grids, but it was lowest in fallow land compared to primary rainforest. Numbers of reproductively active females captured were not different between habitats but were larger during the rainy seasons. Daily movements of females, but not of males, were smaller in fallow land. Capture-mark-recapture analyses showed recapture probabilities to vary highly between grids and years. Survival probability in the primary forest was higher than in fallow land with a difference of 0.084 over a period of four weeks. This is possibly linked to the higher abundance of the main food source (insects and termites); however, other explanations are discussed in the text.
Language
English
Source (journal)
African zoology. - Pretoria
Source (book)
4th International Conference on Rodent Biology and Management (ICRBM), APR 12-16, 2010, Bloemfontein, SOUTH AFRICA
Publication
Pretoria : 2012
ISSN
1562-7020
DOI
10.3377/004.047.0113
Volume/pages
47 :1 (2012) , p. 147-159
ISI
000308773900017
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 22.11.2012
Last edited 09.10.2023
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