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Abstract
The present work aimed to survey rodents species in different three localities i.e. Moshtohor, El-Kady and El-Deer villages, at Tukh district, Qalubia Governorate, Egypt and their distribution in different three habitats i.e. houses, animal & poultry farms and crop fields (wheat and maize).In addition study the effect of certain climatic factors on population abundance of rodents in fields, their seasonal abundance and maturity status of the dominant rodent species during tow successive years started from the beginning of March 2008 until the end of February 2010. Also, laboratory experiments were carried out to study the food preference and acceptability of albino rat (Rattus norvegicus) and albino mice (Mus musculus) for categories of food stuff to determine the suitable food stuff as a step for using it as a carrier of proper baits characterized by high acceptability and palatability for commensal rodents to use it in rodent control.
To achieve these target 90 wire boxes traps provided with spring doors were distributed in the different three habitats for each village once monthly. Each habitat was provided with 30 traps. Each habitat was divided into 3 replicates every one included 10 traps. In all cases the traps were baited daily with fresh baits and distributed in different positions and were kept from 6 pm to 7 am, through three consecutive days, monthly (4 nights). The captured rodents were classified, weighted, differentiated for sex and maturity status, assessment of some morphological parameters i.e. (head and body length, tail length, ear and hind foot length) as well as measuring of some internal parameters (testical length, uterus length, number of fetus and fetus length). The laboratory experiment included 4 categories of food stuff i.e. the carbohydrates grain food (wheat, rice, corn and barley), the legumes seeds food (beans, lentil, chick pea and common bean), the oil grain food (sunflower, peanut, sesame and soybean and the animal food (fish, turkeys cheese, liver and luncheons).
The obtained results could be summarized as follows:
A. Ecological studies
A.1. Field trails
A.1.1. Survey of rodent species in Tukh district
The rodent species collected from the three different habitats were classified as follows: Rattus rattus L. (The climb rat), Rattus norvegicus Berken (The Norway rat) and Mus musculus L. (The house mouse).
A.1.1.1. The entrapped species in the three different habitats
The average of the two years for each of Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus and Mus musculus in three different habitats represented 49.2, 30.1 and 20.8% in the first year. On the other hand, it represented 38.2, 36.1 and 25.8% in the second year of study. Generally, it could be concluded that Rattus rattus was the dominant specie followed by Rattus norvegicus then Mus musculus in the two years of study.
• The entrapped Rattus rattus in the three different habitats:
The most abundant number of Rattus rattus during the first year was observed in spring for houses followed by animal &poultry farms (in autumn) then crop fields (in summer). In the second year, the most abundant number of Rattus rattus was observed (in spring and summer) for houses and animal & poultry farms habitats followed by crop fields (in spring).
• The entrapped Rattus norvegicus in the three different habitats:
The most abundant number of Rattus norvegicus during the first year was observed in spring for animal & poultry farms followed by crop fields then houses. On the other hand, the dominance of this species in the second year followed by crop fields (for spring) > animal & poultry farms (for summer and autumn) > houses (for autumn).
• The entrapped Mus musculus in the three different habitats:
It is clear that Mus musculus was not observed in crop fields habitat for the hole experimental period. Therefore, the average of total number of entrapped Mus musculus within the 1st year was 8.3, 3 and 0 individuals for houses, animal & poultry farms and crop fields, respectively. While, for the 2nd year it was 9, 10.3 and 0 individuals for houses, animal & poultry farms and crop fields, respectively.
A.1.1.2. Population fluctuation of rodent species at the different three habitats:
For the 1st year, the population abundance of rodents represented 64% for houses, 42% for animal & poultry farms and 11% for crop fields. On the other hand, it represented 36.5 % for houses, 48.2% for animal & poultry farms and 15.4% for crop fields for the second year of the experimental period.
• Population fluctuation of rodent species in houses:
The mean average of total number of the 1st year was 8.4 individuals. While, the mean average of total number of the 2nd year was 9.1 individuals. The lowest average went down to 6 and 5.7 individuals for winter of the first and the second year, respectively. While, the highest average reached up to 11.6 and 10.3 individuals for the first and the second years, respectively. The highest average of the first studied year was recorded in spring, but the highest average of the second year was recorded in spring and autumn seasons.
• Population fluctuation of rodent species in animal & poultry farms.