Farmers' perception, knowledge, and control attitudes of rodents infesting cereal growing areas in Morocco

BACKGROUND

Rodent pests threaten agricultural cropping systems, impacting food security and small-holder farmers' income in cereal-growing areas.

RESULTS

This study investigated knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAPs) toward rodents infesting Moroccan cereal crops through a survey of 100 farmers in two regions (Rabat-Sale-Kenitra and Fes-Meknes). A constructive questionnaire about all rodent aspects was created and distributed to the farmers. Rodent infestation is perceived in most fields (80%), with Mus musculus (28%) and Rattus rattus (26%) being the most prevalent species. Farmers perceived rodents negatively (> 90%), considering them as a major threat. Most of the control attitudes against rodent infestation were positive when continuously established and promoted. The farmer profile was shown to influence rodent knowledge and control attitude. Younger, educated, and experienced farmers understood rodent damage trends better and adopted environmental-friendly management practices, while older, inexperienced respondents preferred to use rodenticides instead.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed novel insights into rodent problems in Moroccan cereal fields and urged the need for ecologically-based rodent management (EBRM) practices. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Drivers behind co-occurrence patterns between pathogenic bacteria, protozoa, and helminths in populations of the multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis

Advances in experimental and theoretical work increasingly suggest that parasite interactions within a single host can affect the spread and severity of wildlife diseases. Yet empirical data to support predicted co-infection patterns are limited due to the practical challenges of gathering convincing data from animal populations and the stochastic nature of parasite transmission. Here, we investigated co-infection patterns between micro- (bacteria and protozoa) and macroparasites (gastro-intestinal helminths) in natural populations of the multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis). Fieldwork was performed in Morogoro (Tanzania), where we trapped 211 M. natalensis and tested their behaviour using a modified open-field arena. All animals were checked for the presence of helminths in their gastro-intestinal tract, three bacteria (Anaplasma, Bartonella, and Borrelia) and two protozoan genera (Babesia and Hepatozoon). Besides the presence of eight different helminth genera (reported earlier), we found that 21% of M. natalensis were positive for Anaplasma, 13% for Bartonella, and 2% for Hepatozoon species. Hierarchical modelling of species communities was used to investigate the effect of the different host-related factors on these parasites' infection probability and community structure. Our results show that the infection probability of Bartonella increased with the host's age, while the infection probability of Anaplasma peaked when individuals reached adulthood. We also observed that less explorative and stress-sensitive individuals had a higher infection probability with Bartonella. Finally, we found limited support for within-host interactions between micro-and macroparasites, as most co-infection patterns could be attributed to host exposure time.

Influence of vegetation structure, seasonality, and soil properties on rodent diversi community assemblages in west Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Rodent diversity and community assemblages are affected by several biotic and abiotic factors such as vegetation structure and seasonality. Vegetation structure particularly ground cover influences rodent diversity and community assemblages through provision of food resources and protection from predators. Such information is important for understanding species-habitat relationships for management and conservation. This study was conducted to determine the influence of vegetation structure, seasonality, and soil properties on species richness, abundance, community assemblages, and habitat association of rodents in west Mt Kilimanjaro. Rodent trapping was conducted using removal and capture-mark-recapture (CMR) methods with medium-sized Sherman's live traps, snap, and Havarhart traps. Rodents were trapped during wet and dry seasons for three consecutive nights at 4 weeks intervals from April 2020 to March 2021. Environmental variables including vegetation structure, soil physical properties, and disturbance levels were recorded for each habitat type. Fourteen species of rodents were trapped in 25,956 trap nights. Rhabdomys pumilio, Praomys delectorum, and Lophuromys verhageni were the most dominant species across all habitats and seasons. L.verhageni occurred in all habitats while R.pumilio was restricted from occurring in montane forests. Moreover, species richness and abundance were influenced by habitat types, seasonality, soil type, and ground cover. Generally, both species richness and abundance were higher in fallows and montane forests and significantly lower in plantation forest and agricultural fields. In addition, rodent diversity was highest in fallows, followed by montane forests, and lowest in agricultural fields. Furthermore, rodents were associated with habitat types and vegetation structure forming two major community assemblages that significantly differed between habitats. Our study conclude that, community assemblages of rodents on Mt. Kilimanjaro were affected by functional spatial heterogeneity of the habitats occupied. Therefore, use of different habitats by rodents may be indicative of the landscape integrity and ecosystem changes based on species assemblages.

Using Remote Sensing Data and Species–Environmental Matching Model to Predict the Potential Distribution of Grassland Rodents in the Northern China

An increase in grassland rodent pests in China has seriously affected grassland ecological environments and the development of husbandry. Here, we used remote sensing data and a species–environmental matching model to predict the potential spatial distribution of the five major rodent pest species (Microtus, Citellus, Myospalax, Meriones, Ochotona) in northern China, and examined how the predicted suitability of the area depends on environmental variables. The results were consistent and significant, better than random, and close to optimal. Meriones and Microtus had the largest areas of High Suitability and Moderate Suitability with regard to environmental conditions. The combination analysis of areas of Moderate Suitability and High Suitability showed that for 66% of the total area, conditions were suitable for just one rodent species, while conditions suitable for two and three kinds of rodents accounted for 31% and 3%, respectively. Altitude, land surface temperature in winter (November, December, February) and summer (May, June, July), vegetation cover in summer (July, August), and precipitation from spring to summer (April, May, June) determined the spatial distribution of grassland rodents. Our findings provide a powerful and useful methodological tool for tracking the five major rodent pest species in northern China and for future management measures to ensure grassland ecological environment security.