Effect of interspecific competition on Mus musculus in an urban area

Abstract

In this study, we examined the role of interspeciWc competition between native species and Mus musculus by a removal experiment conducted in vacant areas of the city of Río Cuarto. Abundance, demographic parameters, and habitat occupancy of M. musculus were recorded in grids where native species were removed (experimental grids) and in grids without removal (control grids) from November 2004 to April 2005. During the study period, we observed an increasing trend in the abundance and habitat occupancy by M. musculus in experimental grids, suggesting that interspeciWc competition could be determining the numbers and habitat use of M. musculus in vacant areas of the city of Río Cuarto. Understanding the population ecology of M. musculus in an urban area is crucial to the development of ecologically based pest management to provide eVective management of a pest species.

Same Invasion, Different Routes: Helminth Assemblages May Favor the Invasion Success of the House Mouse in Senegal

“…First, the proximity of larger villages—such as Aere Lao or Mboumba in the River valley, or Yonofere in the NR3 zone—that concentrate most of the local trade and market activities may cause a reduction in the flows (of goods especially) in neighboring smaller villages. Second, local biotic characteristics—such as diversity and/or abundance of the invaded communities may influence the outcomes of invasions ( 45 , 46 ). In this respect, the settlement of house mouse populations could have met biotic resistance from over-abundant and/or more complex small mammal communities in both sites.…”

Host range and distribution of small mammal fleas in South Africa, with a focus on species of medical and veterinary importance

“…By contrast, D. auricularis and O. irroratus are generally found in low densities and tend to keep to their natural habitat (Skinner & Chimimba, ). Commensal rodents are often found in high abundance, mainly in response to a combination of factors such as loss of natural predators (Wilcox & Gubler, ), decrease in interspecific competition (lower small mammal diversity) (Gomez et al ., ) and availability of resources (Froeschke et al ., ). Higher host abundance and body size can facilitate larger flea numbers (Krasnov et al ., ) and larger numbers of flea species (Krasnov et al ., ), which may facilitate the transmission of pathogens within the host population.…”

Spatial Segregation between Invasive and Native Commensal Rodents in an Urban Environment: A Case Study in Niamey, Niger

“…Unlike surveys on rodent ecology from wild or rural areas, studies on urban rodents are quite scarce. When available, they usually deal with one single species (e.g., [22] ) and/or with European (e.g., [16] ), Asian (e.g., [18] ) or American (e.g., [5] , [20] , [24] ) cities. As far as we know, the only studies dedicated to urban rodent communities in Sub-Saharan Africa were conducted by Taylor and colleagues [19] in Durban, South Africa, and by Houéménou [52] in Cotonou, Benin.…”

“…Others have focused on the role of invasive species in the epidemiology of pathogens within a given town (e.g., [21] – [22] ). Finally, studies have been conducted for a better understanding of invasive rodents' urban ecology (e.g., black and Norway rats: reviewed in [23] ), with some very rare instances where the interactions with native species is taken into account (e.g., [24] ). As far as we know, no study has ever been performed to specifically investigate the respective distribution of invasive vs .…”