Aspects of rodent ecology in Lunyo Forest, Uganda

Abstract

ABSTRACTA study of small rodents was conducted in a small lake-shore forest (Lunyo) in southern Uganda between April 1970 and December 1972 Using capture recapture methods, data on population changes and breeding of six murid species were obtained At the beginning of the study, populations of Lophuromys flavopunctatus and Praomys jacksoni were higher during the mid-annual dry season (June-September), but later fluctuated with rainfall Breeding coincided with rainfall in all species but in Praomys jacksoni and Oenomys hypoxanthus breeding occurred in both wet and dry months The growth rate of laboratory reared Praomys jacksoni and Lemniscomys striatus was comparable to that in the forest within the 20–60 g weight ranges The growth rate of Lophuromys flavopunctatus in the laboratory was lower than in the forest Nonsignificant differences in growth rates were observed between individuals of different litters of the same species Except in L striatus, testicular descent in males occurred at an earlier age than vaginal opening in females The average litter size ranged from a high of 4 5 for L striatus to a low of 2 7 for O hypoxanthus