Shaher Bano LATHIYA, Syed Muzaffar AHMED, Abdul Rauf KHOKHAR

Population dynamics of soft-furred field rat, Millardia meltada, in rice and wheat fields in central Punjab, Pakistan

Buğday ve pirinç mevsimlerinde, yumuşak kürklü tarla sıçanı Millardia meltada'nm bolluk, üreme, beslenme ve zarar endekslerine ait veriler toplandı. Millardia meltada'nm bolluğu, buğday ve pirinç ürünlerinin haşatı sonrasında yüksek bulundu. Tarlaları sürmenin Millardia meltada'nm bolluğu üzerinde etkisi olmadı. Ortalama yıllık gebelik görülme oranı % 50 ve ortalama yavru sayısı 6.2 ± 0.4 olarak belirlendi. Millardia tarlalarda buğday ve pirinç olmasa bile, buğday tanelerini tükekmeyi uzun bir süre sürdürmüştür. Pirinç ve buğday ürünlerinin zarar endeksleri sırası ile 17.3 ve 28.3 idi.

Pakistan Orta Pencab' taki buğday ve pirinç tarlalarında yumuşak tüylü tarla sıçanı Millardia meltada' nın popülasyon dinamiği

Data on the abundance, reproduction, diet and damage index of the soft-furred field rat Millardia meltada were collected during the rice and wheat seasons. The abundance of Millardia meltada remained high at the post-harvest stage of the rice and wheat crops. The ploughing of fields did not affect the abundance of Millardia. The mean annual prevalence of pregnancy was 50% and the mean embryonic litter size 6.2 ± 0.4. Millardia continued to eat wheat and rice grains over a long period even when there was no crop standing in the fields. The damage indices in rice and wheat crops were 17.8 and 28.3% respectively.

PDF

___

1. Roberts, TJ. Mammals of Pakistan. Ernest-Benn Limited, London. 361,1977.
2. Chandrahas, R.K. and Krishna Swami, A.K. Ecology of soft furred field-rat, Rattus meltada meltada (Gray) in Kolar Mysore state. J.Bombay. Nat. Hist. Soc; 70(3): 447-457; 1973.
3. Guraya, S.S. and Gupta, S. Observations on the reproductive biology of soft-furred field-rat, Millardia meltada. Proceedings of All-India Rodent Seminar, Sidhpur, India. 70-75; 1975.
4. Fulk, G.W., Lathiya, S.B. and Khokhar, A.R. Rice field rats of lower Sind; Abundance, Reproduction and Diet. J. Zool. London. 193;371-390. 1981.
5. Smiet, A.C., Fulk, G.W. and Lathiya, S.B. Population dynamics of rodents in a sugar cane producing area of Southern Sind, Pakistan.Acta-Theriologica Poland. 25(8): 81-97; 1980.
6. Southwick, G.H. Reproduction, mortality and growth of murid rodent population. Proceedings Indian Rodent Symposium,Calcutta. 152-176; 1966.
7. Lathiya, S.B. Food habits of rodents in rice fields of southern Sind, Pakistan. M. Phil, thesis Department of Zoology, University of Karachi, Pakistan, 1978.
8. Khokhar, A.R. Biology of rodents in rice and wheat fields in central Punjab, Pakistan. M.S thesis', University of Philippines, Los Banos.1981.
9. Rana, S.A. and Beg, M.A. Field biology of Mus musculus and Mus booduga in the Punjab. Pak. J. Zool. 8: 135-141; 1976.
10.Tahir, S. Ecological distribution breeding biology and population structure of the soft-furred field rat, Millardia meltada.- M.Sc. Thesis, University of Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan; 1975.
11.Bindra, O.S. and Sagar, P. Breeding habits of the field rat, Millardia meltada (Gray). J. Bombay. Nat. Hist. Soc; 65: 477-481;
12.Asdell, S.A. Pattern of mammalian reproduction. 2nd Edition,Cornell University Press, New York. 670; 1964.
13.Prater, S.M. The book of Indian animals. Bombay Natural History Society. 324; 1971.
14.Beg, M.A. and Shahnaz, A.R. Ecology of field rat, Rattus meltada pallidiorm central Punjab, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Zoology.10(2): 163-168; 1978.
15.Rana, B.D. and Advani, R. Food composition of the Metad Rattus meltada pallidior in Western Rajasthan. Acta Theriologica. 26(7):129-132:1981.
16.Tigner, J.R. Seasonal food habits of Rattus rattus mindanensis (The Phillipina rice field rat). Doctorate Thesis, University of Colorado. 1972.