Variations saisonnières comparées de l’activité sexuelle (données pondérales) chez deux espèces de Rongeurs (Psammomys obesus et Gerbillus gerbillus) du Sahara occidental algérien

Amirat, Zaïna; Khammar, Farida; Brudieux, R

doi:10.1515/mamm.1977.41.3.341

Cited by 15 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…During this period, all the males had swollen seminal vesicles while most of the females were pregnant or lactating. This criterion is supported by Amirat et al (1975Amirat et al ( , 1977 who worked on the monthly weight variation of the genital organs.…”

Section: Measurement Of Sexual Activitymentioning

confidence: 67%

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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Section: Measurement Of Sexual Activitymentioning

confidence: 67%

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

et al. 1999

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“…Food availability is significant for breeding animals since reproduction is costly and the synchronization of breeding with rainfall and food availability has been confirmed in a number of rodent species (Neal, 1984;Predavec, 1994;Soliman and Mohallal, 2009 (Happold 1966, Amirat et al, 1977. In contrast,rodents from other desert regions for example the Namib, Sinai, Egypt, the Negev and the Tahrbreed throughout most of the year (Reichen, 1973, Sinai et al, 2003, Tripathi 2005, Krug, 2007, Soliman and Mohallal, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive patterns in the Baluchistan gerbil, Gerbillus nanus (Rodentia: Muridae), from western Saudi Arabia: The role of rainfall and temperature

Sarli

Lutermann

Alagaili

et al. 2015

Journal of Arid Environments

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There is little information pertaining to the reproductive biology of the Baluchistan gerbil (Gerbillus nanus) despite a broad distribution throughout the Middle East. In the current study, body mass, reproductive-tract morphometrics plus gonadal histology and endocrine profiles of males and females were studied over 12 consecutive months in a field population of Baluchistan gerbils from the western region of Saudi Arabia in an attempt to gain insights into a) the environmental zeitgeber(s)that correlate with reproduction as well as b) to assess if reproduction is seasonal or aseasonal in this species. With the exception of testosterone all male reproductive indicators varied seasonally and were lower during winter than the rest of the year and most increased with rainfall. In contrast, ovarian mass and volume as well as immature follicle counts showed no seasonal patterns and were independent of rainfall or temperature. First pregnancies were obsereved in late spring coinciding with the increased progesterone concentrations and peaked in summer. This was accompanied by seasonal peaks in the number of Graafian follicles and corpora lutea in females and these parameters were significantly correlated with temperature, but not rainfall In the Arabian Peninsula male, but not female Baluchistan gerbils show seasonal recrudescence and this appears to be correlated largely to rainfall.

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“…Gerbillus cheesmani was clearly a seasonal breeder in Saudi Arabia, like Gerbillus dasyurus in the Negev (Shenbrot et al 1997 ) and several species in N. Sudan (Happold 1966 ) and in W. Algerian Sahara (Amirat et al 1977 ), but unlike other desert regions where rodents may reproduce more or less throughout the whole year, e.g., in the Negev (Sinai et al 2003 ), the Sinai (Soliman and Mohallal 2009 ), the Namib (Krug 2007 ), the Tahr (Tripathi 2005 ), and in Chile (Lima et al 2003 ). The capture of most young G. cheesmani 2 months after the peak in pregnant females confirmed the seasonal character of reproduction in this Saudi Arabian species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, rainfall could indirectly determine the onset of reproduction in most species. Consequently, no reproduction occurs during the hottest and driest months in some desert species (Happold 1966, Amirat et al 1977. As far as we know, no study has been undertaken on the reproduction of rodents in Saudi Arabia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breeding periods of Gerbillus cheesmani (Rodentia, Muridae) in Saudi Arabia

Henry

Dubost

2012

Mammalia

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In deserts, rainfall is rare and often irregular, and this directly conditions the growth, flowering and fruiting of plants. Consequently, food can become seasonally scarce for plant-eating vertebrates. The relationship between the reproduction of rodents, rainfall, and plant production has been partly studied in some Asian and African desert regions, but not in Saudi Arabia. We therefore sought to define the breeding periods of the most common rodent in that country, Gerbillus cheesmani . More than 540 specimens were collected during 16 consecutive months between November 2001 and February 2003. As expected, the reproduction of mature males and females showed significant monthly variation directly correlated to rainfall. Most young were captured 2 months after the peak in pregnancy. The reproduction of this species was clearly seasonal in Saudi Arabia, unlike other desert regions where many rodents reproduce more or less throughout the year. Furthermore, both sexes reproduced synchronously, whereas in most other countries, males become reproductive 1 -2 months before females. Lastly, reproduction coincided with the rainfall during the study period, but not with the average pluviosity of the country. This indicates that all the individuals responded quickly to the local conditions.

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Variations saisonnières comparées de l’activité sexuelle (données pondérales) chez deux espèces de Rongeurs (Psammomys obesus et Gerbillus gerbillus) du Sahara occidental algérien

Cited by 15 publications

References 4 publications

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

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

Reproductive patterns in the Baluchistan gerbil, Gerbillus nanus (Rodentia: Muridae), from western Saudi Arabia: The role of rainfall and temperature

Breeding periods of Gerbillus cheesmani (Rodentia, Muridae) in Saudi Arabia

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