Food preferences of house mice (Mus domesticus) and their implications for control strategies

1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 595 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. E. Robards ◽  
Glen Saunders
Keyword(s):  
Food Consumption ◽  
House Mouse ◽  
Fish Meal ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
House Mice ◽  
Mus Domesticus ◽  
Management Implications ◽  
Preferred Foods ◽  
Flavour Enhancers

A series of pen evaluations of food preferences of the house mouse (Mus domesticus) were conducted to determine whether the acceptability of poison baits could be enhanced with variations to grain type and the incorporation of flavour enhancers. Results showed that soft wheat, canary seed and rice were the most preferred foods, particularly when fish meal was added. Apart from some differences due to the addition of fishmeal, none of the additives, flavours or dyes had a statistically significant effect on food consumption. Management implications of the results are discussed.

Evaluation of Bromadiolone Against House Mouse (Mus Domesticus) Populations in Irrigated Soybean Crops. Ii. Economics.

1991 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 275 ◽  
Author(s):  
GR Singleton ◽  
LE Twigg ◽  
KE Weaver ◽  
BJ Kay
Keyword(s):  
House Mouse ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
House Mice ◽  
Mus Domesticus ◽  
Crop Losses ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Crop Density ◽  
Bait Stations

The economics of controlling house mice [M. musculus] using 0.005% bromadiolone-treated wheat placed in bait stations within soyabean crops was evaluated in New South Wales during 1989 when mouse densities were approx. 200-300/ha. Damage by mice to soyabean crops was assessed up to 200 m into 2 crops (1 with bait and 1 without) on each of 2 farms just before baiting, and 22 and 42 d after baiting. Mouse damage in each crop was always <10%, and was greatest in patches of high crop density. Damage was similar at the crop perimeters and up to 100 m into the crops, but 200 m from crop perimeters, damage was less prevalent. By 42 d after baiting, the differences in crop losses relative to pre-baiting damage levels were minimal. Estimates of losses caused by mice in 3 of the principal soyabean growing regions of New South Wales were obtained from all farmers who grew soyabeans in 1988-89. The combined losses caused by mice to growers in these regions in 1989 was about $A2 million.

The Strategic Use of Rodenticides Against House Mice (Mus Domesticus) Prior to Crop Invasion.

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
BJ Kay ◽  
LE Twigg ◽  
HI Nicol
Keyword(s):  
Generalized Linear Models ◽  
Predictive Models ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Crop Damage ◽  
House Mice ◽  
Mus Domesticus ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Over Time

This study evaluated the effect of baiting refuge habitats around irrigated soyabeans with bromadiolone to control house mice and reduce their invasion of crops. Generalized linear models were constructed and used to predict changes in mouse abundance over time in both refuge and crop habitats of treated and untreated plots. Compared with untreated plots, bromadiolone significantly reduced the number of mice inhabiting the refuge habitat and reduced the rate at which mice invaded and colonized the adjacent crops. Despite this, no significant reductions in damage were detected as mice numbers failed to reach critical densities for crop damage on the untreated plots. This indicates a need for short-term predictive models when considering control strategies.

Spatial heterogeneity in wild populations of house mice (Mus domesticus) on the Darling Downs, South eastern Queensland

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
LK Chambers ◽  
GR Singleton ◽  
MV Wensveen
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Spatial Heterogeneity ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
House Mice ◽  
Mus Domesticus ◽  
Agricultural System ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Roadside Verges

This study examined habitat use by house mice (Mus domesticus) in an agricultural landscape during a phase of population increase. The primary aim was to determine whether spatial heterogeneity is an important consideration when examining population processes of mice. Mice within a 4-km2 trapping zone were trapped on approximately 36 transects at each of six farms on the Darling Downs, Queensland, in May and June 1992. There were 2100 trap-nights at each farm. Most mice were caught in undisturbed grass verges along fencelines. Undisturbed verges also harboured mice of above-average body condition and had the highest proportion of adult females breeding. High numbers of mice were caught also in roadside verges, long sorghum stubble and ripe summer crops. Few mice were caught in fallow paddocks, short sorghum stubble and ploughed sorghum stubble. Habitat use did not vary with sex or age-class. The distribution of mice amongst habitats varied at each farm. Thus, over the two months there were farm-level differences in how mice used the landscape in this agricultural system. These variations in habitat use by mice were significant at both a fine scale of habitat classification (seven habitat types) and a broader scale (four habitat types) more generally applicable to grain-growing regions in Australia. This study demonstrates that spatial heterogeneity needs to be considered when designing trapping protocols or control strategies for mice.

scholarly journals The HSR on chromosome 1 of the house mouse, Mus domesticus: distribution and frequency in Switzerland

1994 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Hübner ◽  
Tiziano Maddalena ◽  
Jeremy B. Searle ◽  
Peter Vogel
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Distribution ◽  
House Mouse ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Chromosome 1 ◽  
House Mice ◽  
Mus Domesticus ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Rhone Valley

SummaryA total of 357 house mice (Mus domesticus) from 83 localities uniformly distributed throughout Switzerland were screened for the presence of a homogenously staining region (HSR) on chromosome 1. Altogether 47 mice from 11 localities were HSR/ + or HSR/HSR. One sample of 11 individuals all had an HSR/HSR karyotype. Almost all mice with the variant were collected from the Rhone valley (HSR frequency: 61%) and Val Bregaglia (HSR frequency: 81%). For samples from most of thearea of Switzerland, the HSR was absent. There was no strong association between the geographic distribution of the HSR and the areas of occurrence of metacentrics. However, at Chiggiogna the HSR was found on Rb (1·3). Possible explanations for the HSR polymorphism are discussed.

scholarly journals Patterns of DNA Variability at X-Linked Loci in Mus domesticus

Genetics ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 147 (3) ◽  
pp. 1303-1316
Author(s):  
Michael W Nachman
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
X Chromosome ◽  
House Mouse ◽  
Recombination Rate ◽  
Nucleotide Diversity ◽  
Mus Domesticus ◽  
Substantial Variation ◽  
Intraspecific Polymorphism ◽  
Recombination Rates ◽  
Interspecific Divergence

Introns of four X-linked genes (Hprt, Plp, Glra2, and Amg) were sequenced to provide an estimate of nucleotide diversity at nuclear genes within the house mouse and to test the neutral prediction that the ratio of intraspecific polymorphism to interspecific divergence is the same for different loci. Hprt and Plp lie in a region of the X chromosome that experiences relatively low recombination rates, while Glra2 and Amg lie near the telomere of the X chromosome, a region that experiences higher recombination rates. A total of 6022 bases were sequenced in each of 10 Mus domesticus and one M. caroli. Average nucleotide diversity (π) for introns within M. domesticus was quite low (π = 0.078%). However, there was substantial variation in the level of heterozygosity among loci. The two telomeric loci, Glra2 and Amg, had higher ratios of polymorphism to divergence than the two loci experiencing lower recombination rates. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that heterozygosity is reduced in regions with lower rates of recombination, although sampling of additional genes is needed to establish whether there is a general correlation between heterozygosity and recombination rate as in Drosophila melanogaster.

scholarly journals Insights into mammalian biology from the wild house mouse Mus musculus

eLife ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Phifer-Rixey ◽  
Michael W Nachman
Keyword(s):  
House Mouse ◽  
Mus Musculus ◽  
Genetic Model ◽  
Inbred Strains ◽  
Mendelian Inheritance ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
House Mice ◽  
Small Subset ◽  
Wild Mice ◽  
Wide Range

The house mouse, Mus musculus, was established in the early 1900s as one of the first genetic model organisms owing to its short generation time, comparatively large litters, ease of husbandry, and visible phenotypic variants. For these reasons and because they are mammals, house mice are well suited to serve as models for human phenotypes and disease. House mice in the wild consist of at least three distinct subspecies and harbor extensive genetic and phenotypic variation both within and between these subspecies. Wild mice have been used to study a wide range of biological processes, including immunity, cancer, male sterility, adaptive evolution, and non-Mendelian inheritance. Despite the extensive variation that exists among wild mice, classical laboratory strains are derived from a limited set of founders and thus contain only a small subset of this variation. Continued efforts to study wild house mice and to create new inbred strains from wild populations have the potential to strengthen house mice as a model system.

Potential impacts of poison baiting for introduced house mice on native animals on islands in Jurien Bay, Western Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clifford Bennison ◽  
J. Anthony Friend ◽  
Timothy Button ◽  
Harriet Mills ◽  
Cathy Lambert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Rhodamine B ◽  
Native Species ◽  
House Mice ◽  
Mus Domesticus ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
Delivery Technique ◽  
Poison Baiting ◽  
Competition For Resources

Context House mice (Mus domesticus) are present on Boullanger and Whitlock islands, Western Australia, and could potentially threaten populations of the dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) and grey-bellied dunnart (Sminthopsis griseoventer) through competition for resources. A workshop in 2007 recommended a study to assess the feasibility of eradicating house mice from the islands by using poison baits and of the risk posed to non-target native species. Aim We aimed to assess the risk to non-target native species if poison baiting was used to eradicate house mice on Boullanger and Whitlock islands. Methods Non-toxic baits containing the bait marker rhodamine B were distributed on Boullanger Island and on the mouse free Escape Island to determine the potential for primary poisoning. Acceptance of baits by mammals was measured through sampling and analysis of whiskers, and by reptiles through observations of dye in faeces. To determine the potential for secondary exposure to poison, the response of dibblers to mouse carcasses was observed using motion-activated cameras. Bait acceptance was compared using two methods of delivery, namely, scattering in the open and delivery in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubes. A cafeteria experiment of bait consumption by dibblers was also undertaken using captive animals held at the Perth Zoo. Ten dibblers were offered non-toxic baits containing rhodamine B in addition to their normal meals; consumption of bait and the presence of dye in whiskers were measured. Key results Bait acceptance on the islands was high for house mice (92% of individuals) and dibblers (48%) and it was independent of bait-delivery technique. There was no evidence of bait acceptance by grey-bellied dunnarts. Dibblers may consume mice carcasses if available; however, no direct consumption of mice carcasses was observed with movement sensor cameras but one dibbler was observed removing a mouse carcass and taking it away. During the cafeteria experiment, 9 of 10 captive dibblers consumed baits. Conclusions This investigation demonstrated that dibblers consume baits readily and island populations would experience high mortality if exposed to poison baits. Poison baiting could effectively eradicate mice from Boullanger and Whitlock islands but not without mortality for dibblers. Implications Toxic baits could be used to eradicate mice from Boullanger and Whitlock islands, provided that non-target species such as dibblers were temporarily removed from the islands before the application of baits.

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