ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON RODENTS IN THE FARM OF AL-AZHAR UNIVERSITY  AT ASSIUT GOVERNORATE

Abdel-gawad,, K. H.; Metwally, A. M.; Nashaat, A. M.; Saudi, A. S.

doi:10.21608/jppp.2008.218965

ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON RODENTS IN THE FARM OF AL-AZHAR UNIVERSITY AT ASSIUT GOVERNORATE

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Faculty of Agriculture Assiut University .

² Faculty of Agriculture Al-Azhar University Cairo

³ Faculty of Agriculture Al-Azhar University Assiut branch

10.21608/jppp.2008.218965

Abstract

Survey of rodents was conducted, at Al-Azhar University Experimental Farm in Assiut. This studies were achieved throughout two year in field crops and woodlands areas . In both areas 50 wire-box traps of the usual spring door (25×12×10 cm) were baited and distributed twice every 15 days. the Survey of rodents in field crops and woodlands areas revealed the presence of four species of rats and mice . These species were ranked in the field crops as percentage of the total rodents in each year in the following orders, Arvicanthis niloticus (Desm.) (63.09 and 72.08%), Rattus. Rattus frugivorus (5.58 and 3.6%), Rattus. r. alexandrinus (1.28 and 5.4%) while Mus musculus Linn. ( 30.05 and 18.92%) for the first and second year respectively. While in woodlands area were (37.33 & 32.8 %),.(9.22 & 13.6%) , (23.05 & 26.4%) and (29.95 & 27.2% ) for the same species and two years respectively. Also, it was found five individuals of the spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus cahirinus were captured during the same period. Generally, the number of rodents trapped from the field crops and woodlands areas during 2004/2005 (236 individuals) was decreased as compared with the number trapped from the same areas through 2003/2004,( 450 individuals) .The decreased of the density may be due to the shortage of food in this area through the last year . In the woodlands area the highest seasonal index was recorded in spring while the lowest one in winter.