The diversity, diet composition and breeding season of rodents in agricultural and grasslands of Bucha Kebele, Angacha District, Kembata Tembaro Zone, South Ethiopia.

Abstract

The diversity, diet composition and breeding season of rodents was studied in Bucha Kebele, Angacha district, Kembata Tembaro Zone, South Ethiopia, covering both dry and wet seasons. Snap traps were used to capture rodents from cultivated and grassland habitats. A total of 900 trap nights, from the two trapping habitats, yielded 185 individuals that represented 6 species of rodents. The species composition and their relative abundance of rodents trapped from the two habitats in both season include: Arvicanthis dembeensis (44.9%), Mastomys erythroleucus (21.1%), Rattus rattus (15.7%), Mastomys natalensis (8.6%), Mus musculus (7%) and Mus mahomet (2.7%). The relative abundance of rodents varied between habitats and seasons, more from farmland and highest during the dry season. A. dembeensis was widely distributed in both habitat types. Number of pregnant females and embryo count was higher during the wet season than dry season. The stomach content of rodents was mostly plant matters and few animal matters. Grass was the dominant food item in the stomach of A. dembeensis during both seasons as compared to other rodent species, whereas seed was eaten by all species in more proportion, indicating that they all are pests of the study area. Livestock grazing, lack of cover, rainfall and human interference were the major factors affecting the abundance and distribution of rodents in the study area.