Effects of habitat fragmentation on the movement patterns and dispersal ability of the brown spiny rat (Maxomys rajah) in the Planted Forest Zone of Sarawak, Eastern Malaysia

Shadbolt, Antony Bruce; Ragai, Roslina

doi:10.1007/s10531-009-9729-9

Cited by 11 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…This is supported by the observation that individuals in this study sometimes traveled parallel to fallen wood, close against the side. Traveling on top of woody debris has also been hypothesized to provide a simple substrate to allow for faster, more efficient travel and to allow small mammals to scan more effectively for predators while moving (Shadbolt & Ragai ). Therefore, in terms of foraging and predation risk, fallen wood may be an important microhabitat feature for maintaining populations of small mammals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Small mammals tended to avoid moving through leaf litter, a pattern that may be explained by the complexity of this substrate inducing slow, noisy travel with greater risk of predation (Shadbolt & Ragai ). By contrast, the preference for sunken, dry river beds may be explained by the more enclosed nature of this substrate, reducing visibility to predators.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Movement Behavior of Native and Invasive Small Mammals Shows Logging May Facilitate Invasion in a Tropical Rain Forest

et al. 2016

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Invasive species pose one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. This study investigates the extent to which human disturbance to natural ecosystems facilitates the spread of non‐native species, focusing on a small mammal community in selectively logged rain forest, Sabah, Borneo. The microhabitat preferences of the invasive Rattus rattus and three native species of small mammal were examined in three‐dimensional space by combining the spool‐and‐line technique with a novel method for quantifying fine‐scale habitat selection. These methods allowed the detection of significant differences for each species between the microhabitats used compared with alternative, available microhabitats that were avoided. Rattus rattus showed the greatest preference for heavily disturbed habitats, and in contrast to two native small mammals of the genus Maxomys, R. rattus showed high levels of arboreal behavior, frequently leaving the forest floor and traveling through the understory and midstory forest strata. This behavior may enable R. rattus to effectively utilize the complex three‐dimensional space of the lower strata in degraded forests, which is characterized by dense vegetation. The behavioral flexibility of R. rattus to operate in both terrestrial and arboreal space may facilitate its invasion into degraded forests. Human activities that generate heavily disturbed habitats preferred by R. rattus may promote the establishment of this invasive species in tropical forests in Borneo, and possibly elsewhere. We present this as an example of a synergistic effect, whereby forest disturbance directly threatens biodiversity and indirectly increases the threat posed by invasive species, creating habitat conditions that facilitate the establishment of non‐native fauna.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Movement Behavior of Native and Invasive Small Mammals Shows Logging May Facilitate Invasion in a Tropical Rain Forest

et al. 2016

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“…Most species experience environmental variation to some degree, but organisms are increasingly exposed to climatic and humaninduced environmental change at a rate much higher than evolutionary time scales. For example, habitats are altered, fragmented and/or lost, which can affect movement patterns (Riotte-Lambert and Matthiopoulos, 2019), such as dispersal, migration, and movements for foraging and breeding (e.g., Norris and Stutchburry, 2001;Shadbolt and Ragai, 2010;Stouffer et al, 2011;Amos et al, 2014). The ability of individuals to respond to such changes is paramount for their survival and long-term population persistence.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognition in a Changing World: Red-Headed Gouldian Finches Enter Spatially Unfamiliar Habitats More Readily Than Do Black-Headed Birds

et al. 2020

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Human activities are increasingly confronting animals with unfamiliar environmental conditions. For example, habitat change and loss often lead to habitat fragmentation, which can create barriers of unsuitable and unfamiliar habitat affecting animal movements and survival. When confronted with habitat changes, animals' cognitive abilities play an important, but often neglected part in dealing with such change. Animals must decide whether to approach and investigate novel habitats (spatial neophilia) or whether to avoid them (spatial neophobia) due to potential danger. For species with strict habitat preferences, such as the Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae), which is an open habitat specialist, understanding these novelty responses may be especially important for predicting responses to habitat changes. The Gouldian finch is a polymorphic species, with primarily red or black head colors, which are linked to differing behavioral phenotypes, including novelty reactions. Here we investigate responses to novel habitats (open, dense) in the Gouldian finch, manipulating the color composition of samesex pairs. Two experiments, each consisting of novel open and novel dense habitat, tested birds in opposite head color combinations in the two experiments. We measured the number of approaches birds made (demonstrating conflict between approach and avoidance), and their entry latency to novel habitats. Gouldian finches showed more approach attempts (stronger approach-avoidance conflict) toward the dense as compared to the open habitat, confirming their open habitat preferences. Black-headed birds also hesitated longer to enter the dense habitat as compared to the open habitat, particularly in experiment 1, appearing less neophilic than red-headed birds, which showed similar entry latencies into both habitat types. This is surprising as black-headed birds were more neophilic in other contexts. Moreover, there was some indication that pairings including at least one black-headed bird had a stronger approach-avoidance conflict than pairings of pure red-headed birds. Results suggest that the black-headed

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“…Trapping efforts were geared towards capturing at least 10 individuals monthly for each of the five rodent species but was not possible. Generally in the tropics, obtaining ample sample size within fixed period is a major challenge in studying diet ecology of small mammals (Shadbolt, 2010). This study is not totally absolved from this difficulty which limited seasonal comparison of the diets of the rodents.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Dietary composition of rodents across different habitats in the Ukaguru Mountains, Tanzania

et al. 2022

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This study aimed at investigating the dietary composition of rodents in the Ukaguru Mountains, Tanzania. Micro-histological analysis of the stomach contents of rodents collected from various habitats was carried out. In the diet of Mastomys natalensis, Lemniscomys rosalia and Mus triton, seed/grain showed greater importance (>35%, >55% and 60% respectively), whereas for Lophuromys kilonzoi, plant materials were more important (>55%) than other categories. Seed/grains were more important (>20%) in the diet of Praomys delectorum, while plant materials were more important (>45%) in the diet of forest-dwelling L. kilonzoi. Food diversity for rodents in farmland was relatively low compared with forest-dwelling rodents. Our results indicated that the relatively low niche breadth observed in rodents caught in farms could be attributed to the major contribution of seed/grains to their diet while forest-dwelling rodents showed greater food diversity owing to the more heterogeneous and stable nature of forests compared with farms. The abundance of food resources in both habitats would have permitted coexistence of rodent species. K E Y W O R D S diet, eastern Arc Mountains, niche breadth, rodents Résumé L'objectif de cette étude était d'examiner la composition du régime alimentaire des rongeurs dans les monts Ukaguru, en Tanzanie. Une microanalyse histologique du contenu stomacal de rongeurs prélevés au sein de divers habitats a été réalisée. L'abondance des graines et des céréales s'est avérée plus importante dans le régime alimentaire des espèces Mastomys natalensis, Lemniscomys rosalia et Mus triton (>35 %, >55 % et 60 % respectivement), tandis que l'abondance des matières végétales était plus importante (>55 %) dans le régime alimentaire de l'espèce Lophuromys kilonzoi que dans celui des autres catégories. L'abondance des graines et des céréales était plus importante (>20 %) dans le régime alimentaire de l'espèce Praomys delectorum, tandis que l'abondance de matières végétales était plus importante (>45 %) dans le régime alimentaire de l'espèce L. kilonzoi vivant dans la forêt. La diversité du régime alimentaire des rongeurs au sein des terres agricoles était relativement faible par rapport à celle du régime alimentaire des rongeurs vivant dans les forêts. Nos résultats

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Effects of habitat fragmentation on the movement patterns and dispersal ability of the brown spiny rat (Maxomys rajah) in the Planted Forest Zone of Sarawak, Eastern Malaysia

Cited by 11 publications

References 20 publications

Movement Behavior of Native and Invasive Small Mammals Shows Logging May Facilitate Invasion in a Tropical Rain Forest

Movement Behavior of Native and Invasive Small Mammals Shows Logging May Facilitate Invasion in a Tropical Rain Forest

Cognition in a Changing World: Red-Headed Gouldian Finches Enter Spatially Unfamiliar Habitats More Readily Than Do Black-Headed Birds

Dietary composition of rodents across different habitats in the Ukaguru Mountains, Tanzania

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