Reproductive ecology of the black rat (Rattus rattus) in Madagascar: the influence of density-dependent and -independent effects  

作　　者：Kathryn SCOBIE Soanandrasana RAHELINIRINA Voahangy SOARIMALALA Fehivola Mandanirina ANDRIAMIARIMANANA Corinne RAHAINGOSOAMAMITIANA Toky RANDRIAMORIA Soloandry RAHAJANDRAIBE Xavier LAMBIN Minoarisoa RAJERISON Sandra TELFER 

机构地区：[1]School of Biological Sciences,University of Aberdeen,Aberdeen,UK [2]Plague Unit,Institut Pasteur de Madagascar,Antananarivo,Madagascar [3]Association Vahatra,Antananarivo,Madagascar

出　　处：《Integrative Zoology》2024年第1期66-86,共21页整合动物学（英文版）

基　　金：This work was also supported by the Wellcome Trust[095171/Z/10/Z];the Medical Research Council[MR/T029862/1];by the National Institute for Health Research(NIHR)(using the UK’s Official Development Assistance[ODA]Fund-ing)and Wellcome[219532/Z/19/Z]under the NIHR-Wellcome Partnership for Global Health Research.

摘　　要：The black rat(Rattus rattus)poses a severe threat to food security and public health in Madagascar,where it is a major cause of pre-and post-harvest crop losses and an important reservoir for many zoonotic diseases,including plague.Elsewhere,ecologically based rodent management(EBRM)strategies have been developed using ecologi-cal information to inform decisions on where and when to target control.EBRM could deliver improved health and well-being outcomes in Madagascar if adapted to the local ecological context.Using data collected from removal studies,we explored spatio-temporal patterns in the breeding activity of the black rat(R.rattus)in domestic and agricultural habitats across Madagascar and investigated to what extent these trends are influenced by rainfall and rat density.We identified clear spatio-temporal variation in the seasonality of R.rattus reproduction.Reproduction was highly seasonal both inside and outside of houses,but seasonal trends varied between these two habitats.Sea-sonal trends were explained,in part,by variation in rainfall;however,the effect of rainfall on reproductive rates did itself vary by season and habitat type.A decline in breeding intensity with increasing rat density was recorded outside of houses.This has important implications for control,as populations may compensate for removal through increased reproduction.We recommend that sustained control initiated before the main breeding season,combined with improved hygiene and adequate rodent-proofing in homes and grain stores,could curtail population growth and reduce pre-and post-harvest losses provided that these measures overcome the compensatory response of rodent populations.

关 键 词：Madagascar Rattus rattus reproductive ecology rodent control 

分 类 号：Q95[生物学—动物学]