Etude de la répartition spatiale des micromammifères d’une zone pastorale en milieu saharien (Guelmime, Maroc)

Zaime, Abdelkader; Pascal, Michel

doi:10.1515/mamm.1989.53.1.67

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Data from all transects show that Psammomys obesus is confined within the sebchet and never ventures into food crop areas or sandy–silty areas occupied by Astragalus and Peganum harmala . This confirms the dependence of this species on halophytic plants, as previously shown by Petter (1961) and Daly & Daly (1973) in Algeria, and by Zaime & Pascal (1989) in Morocco. The rodent seems to prefer habitats in which all three of the main halophytic species of this part of Tunisia occur together, that is Arthrocnemum glaucum , Salsola tetrandra and Suæda fruticosa .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

The spatio‐temporal distribution of a rodent reservoir host of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Fichet‐Calvet

Jomâa

Zaafouri³

et al. 2000

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Summary1. The rodent Psammomys obesus is the main reservoir host for Leishmania major, the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Tunisia, much of North Africa and mid-western Asia. An understanding of the population dynamics of this rodent is essential to establish a preventive control strategy based on the early prediction of rodent outbreaks. 2. The study of P. obesus dynamics at a regional scale requires index-based sampling. Rodent numbers were monitored twice per year at the beginning and end of the breeding season, using transects around the Sidi Bouzid region in central Tunisia. 3. Two di erent types of dynamics occurred in two drainage basins. Rodents living in the northern basin were at low density and those living in the southern basin were at high density. 4. At the scale of a plot, occupied burrows were generally associated with the presence of three Chenopodiaceae: Arthrocnemum glaucum, Salsola tetrandra and Suñda fruticosa, rarely in monospeci®c formations. However, in dry periods, occupied burrows drifted to A. glaucum formation linked with high moisture and salinity of the soil (w 2 MacNemar 6Á26). 5. The risk of a P. obesus outbreak can be assessed by a simultaneous knowledge of¯ooding regimes in the drainage basins, the distribution of halophytic plant formations, and the progressive movements of the rodents as drying out proceeds. The transect indices of rodents are easily repeatable, economical and would be applicable in other developing countries where cutaneous leishmaniasis occurs. 6. This work illustrates that simple ecological methods can assist the assessment of spatial and temporal components of epidemiological risk such as the proximity between rodent colonies and human habitats at the time of outbreaks.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

The spatio‐temporal distribution of a rodent reservoir host of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Fichet‐Calvet

Jomâa

Zaafouri³

et al. 2000

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…In a dry winter (21 mm in the 3 previous months), the animals would take refuge in the lower (0.5 to 1 m) and more humid part of the sebcha. This result agrees with those of Zaime & Pascal (1989) in Morocco in a sheep-walk rich in Chenopodiaceae. These authors captured more P. obesus in squares (100 m 2 ) where bushes were large and voluminous than in squares where bushes were small and`rachitic'.…”

Section: Abundance and Small-scale Distributionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Reproduction and abundance of the fat sand rat (Psammomys obesus) in relation to weather conditions in Tunisia

et al. 1999

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The fat sand rat Psammomys obesus is the main reservoir host of cutaneous leishmaniasis in North Africa and western Asia. In order to understand better the transmission of this disease to humans, a longitudinal study of a population of the rodent was carried out in Tunisia. Rodents were collected in 10 trapping sessions between May 1995 and January 1997, using mole traps and cage traps. The structure of the population was established from eye lens weights and the reproductive state was determined on dissection. Reproduction took place continuously from autumn 1995 to spring 1996 with sexual activity rates from 60±65% in females and 23±100% in males. The mean litter size rose from 3.6 in September to 6.1 in March. Reproduction ceased completely in the summer of 1996, and did not start again till January 1997, following an apparent failure in the autumn. Animals born early in the breeding season bred at an early age, but those born later delayed breeding till the following season. At most times the population clearly consisted of two cohorts, one born in the most recent breeding season, and one born in the preceding one. In response to the reproductive cycle, population numbers showed an increase in winter and a decline in summer. The peak observed in March 1996 was due to the sexual activity of multiparous females and young breeding females. At this time there was a female bias in the sex ratio. In a winter dry period, favourable habitat for breeding was con®ned to an area in which several species of Chenopodiaceae were associated. Sexual activity in females was clearly correlated with rainfall and rain days, with a 1 month delay (r = 0.78; P = 0.007). Male sexual activity was independent of weather conditions. This result is comparable with other rodents of Sahelian or tropical conditions. The increase in fertility was unrelated to age and is discussed in the light of food availability as a proximate factor. The persistence of the parasite causing cutaneous leishmaniasis in host populations is discussed.

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“…Earlier observations in Algeria Daly 1974, 1975a), in Morocco (Zaime and Gautier 1989 ;Zaime and Pascal 1989) and the present study in Israel indicate that the fat sand rat occupies areas with the best supplies of chcnopods. It is also known that a fat sand rat eats about 100 percent of its body weight daily, but can collect an entire day's ration in a quarter of hour.…”

Section: Time Budget Foraging and Related Behavioursupporting

confidence: 66%

Daytime activities and social interactions in a colony of the fat sand rats, Psammomys obesus, at the Negev Highlands, Israel

Gromov¹

2001

Mamm

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A colony of Psammomys obesus (6 adult males and 9 adult females) on a 3.5 ha study area was live trapped, individually marked and visually observed from October 14 to November 20, 1997. The population of fat sand rats was still in a reproductive phase. Home ranges of the animals were defined by a clustered distribution of burrow entrances and general areas of activity of individuals. Adult females occupied nonoverlapping home ranges with the best supplies of Anabasis articulata or Atriplex halimus. For male range selection, the female are themselves a relevant resource. Data on time budget, habitat preference, use of space, scent territory marking, and social interactions of the animals were collected and analyzed. The present study shows apparent resemblance in ecology and behaviour between the fat sand rats and the Tamarisk gcrbils, Meriones tamariscinus, except for the night-time activity of the latter. Both species have a strict diet, are capable to consume vegetation with high sodium contents, and aggressively solitary ; their space use is also very similar. This allows to draw important ecological and evolutionary parallels between palaearctic and north-african gerbil species. Resume. -L'organisation spatiale et le comportement social ont etc etudies dans une colonic de Psammomys obesus en Israel. Six males et neuf femelies adultes, en periode de reproduction, ont etc observes visuellement apres piegeage et marquage individuel, du 14 octobre au 20 novcmbre 1997. Les domaines vitaux ont ete definis par le regroupement des differentcs entrees de terrier ainsi quc par les activites des individus. Les femelies adultes occupaient des domaines disjoints contenant les plus beaux buissons d'Anabasis articulata ou a'Atriplex halimus. Le domainc des males se superposait a ceux des femelies. Le budget temps, 1'utilisation de l'cspace, le marquage territorial et les interactions sociales ont ete analysees. Cette etude sur P. obesus montre des similitudes ecologiques et comportementales avec Meriones tamariscinus, un Gerbillide nocturne. Les deux especes sont stenophagcs, capables dc manger des plantes ä tcneur clevce en sodium. Elles sont solitaires et relativement agressives et leurs utilisations dc 1'espacc sonl comparables. Ceci suggcrc d'importants paralleles ecologiques et evolutifs entre les especes de Gerbiliides de la zone palearctique asiatique et nord-africainc.

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Etude de la répartition spatiale des micromammifères d’une zone pastorale en milieu saharien (Guelmime, Maroc)

Cited by 4 publications

References 3 publications

The spatio‐temporal distribution of a rodent reservoir host of cutaneous leishmaniasis

The spatio‐temporal distribution of a rodent reservoir host of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Reproduction and abundance of the fat sand rat (Psammomys obesus) in relation to weather conditions in Tunisia

Daytime activities and social interactions in a colony of the fat sand rats, Psammomys obesus, at the Negev Highlands, Israel

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