The Diet of the Introduced Rodents Mus-Musculus L and Rattus-Rattus L on Sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island

1986 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 441 ◽  
Author(s):  
GR Copson
Keyword(s):  
House Mouse ◽  
Mus Musculus ◽  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Macquarie Island ◽  
Ship Rat

The diets of Mus musculus and Rattus rattus on Macquarie I . were investigated by analysis of stomach contents collected monthly for 12 months. The diet of the house mouse was found to be mainly invertebrate matter but that of the ship rat was mainly plant material. Seasonal variations were found in both diets but were greater in that of the ship rat than that of the house mouse.

On the Diet of the Boa Epicrates striatus on Hispaniola, with Notes on E. fordi and E. gracilis

1987 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
José A. Ottenwalder ◽  
Robert W. Henderson ◽  
Albert Schwartz ◽  
Teresa A. Noeske-Hallin
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Mus Musculus ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Early 20Th Century ◽  
Ontogenetic Shift ◽  
Small Rodents ◽  
Prey Remains

AbstractThe stomach contents of 214 specimens of Hispaniolan Epicrates (Serpentes: Boidae) were examined for prey remains. The largest species, E. striatus, exhibits a sharp ontogenetic shift in diet: snakes < 60 cm SVL ate predominantly Anolis lizards; snakes 60-80 cm SVL took anoles and small rodents; and snakes > 80 cm SVL ate birds and rats (Rattus rattus). Epicrates fordi preyed on anoles and small rodents, and E. gracilis took only Anolis. E. striatus ate larger individuals of the same species of Anolis consumed by Hispaniolan colubrids. Before the arrival of Europeans on Hispaniola, large Epicrates striatus most likely preyed upon birds and now-extict rodents (Brotomys, Isolobodon and Plagiodontia) and insectivores (Nesophontes). The diet of E. striatus would have gradually shifted from native to introduced mammals, and by the early 20th century, when most native, non-volant mammals had become extinct on Hispaniola, the shift would have become nearly complete, with the exotics Mus musculus and Rattus rattus becoming the predominant prey species.

scholarly journals The Influence of Ship Rats (Rattus Rattus) on the Habitat Preferences of the House Mouse (Mus Musculus)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Benjamin Hancock
Keyword(s):  
House Mouse ◽  
Mus Musculus ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Foraging Activity ◽  
Cascading Effects ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Indirect Cues

<p>As methods and successes of Rattus rattus (ship rat) control progress, particularly in island environments, the importance of managing Mus musculus (house mouse) increases. M. musculus can negatively impact on a variety of native fauna and flora, potentially creating long term cascading effects. M. musculus populations benefit with the reduction in R. rattus abundance and recover sooner from pest control programs. This three-part study investigated the habitat utilisation of M. musculus and how their relationship with R. rattus influences their habitat preferences. Firstly, hypotheses about the habitat preferences of M. musculus were tested over a landscape scale to determine the features of the environment most important to their distribution. Then the direct effect of R. rattus presence on M. musculus habitat-use was investigated in arena trials. Lastly, in the same arenas, canopy cover was tested as an indirect cue for M. musculus to evaluate the presence of R. rattus. Across 32 sites, M. musculus were the most abundant in warm dry habitats. North facing slopes and rank grass cover were the features of the environment that had the strongest relationship with abundance. In arenas M. musculus foraging activity was 52% lower in patches of short grass when R. rattus scent was present but foraging in rank grass and bare ground was not altered, suggesting activity was suppressed not competitive displacement. There were no significant changes in M. musculus foraging behaviour between different canopy treatments. Although a trend of nocturnal foraging activity dropping 26% when high canopy cover was over short grass compared to short grass patches with lower or no canopy treatments may indicate a risky habitat. M. musculus use of dense ground cover was common theme in this study and in the literature. R. rattus do influence the habitat selection of M. musculus though this was with direct presence more than indirect cues.</p>

scholarly journals Diet of an Eastern Grass Owl Tyto longimembris in northern New South Wales

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 44-48
Author(s):  
Stephen Kearney ◽  
Keyword(s):  
House Mouse ◽  
Mus Musculus ◽  
National Park ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Black Rat ◽  
South Wales

A single Eastern Grass Owl Tyto longimembris was observed in Bundjalung National Park, New South Wales, in September 2019. Pellets (n = 17) collected from its roost contained the remains of House Mouse Mus musculus, Grassland Melomys Melomys burtoni, Black Rat Rattus rattus, Swamp Rat R. lutreolus, Fawn-footed Melomys Melomys cervinipes, Common Planigale Planigale maculata, Eastern Blossom Bat Syconycteris australis and honeyeater Phylidonyris sp. The most interesting findings were the Eastern Blossom Bat (the first published record of a bat in the diet of an Eastern Grass Owl in Australia) and that one of the Grassland Melomys specimens had pink bones.

scholarly journals The Influence of Ship Rats (Rattus Rattus) on the Habitat Preferences of the House Mouse (Mus Musculus)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Benjamin Hancock
Keyword(s):  
House Mouse ◽  
Mus Musculus ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Foraging Activity ◽  
Cascading Effects ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Indirect Cues

<p>As methods and successes of Rattus rattus (ship rat) control progress, particularly in island environments, the importance of managing Mus musculus (house mouse) increases. M. musculus can negatively impact on a variety of native fauna and flora, potentially creating long term cascading effects. M. musculus populations benefit with the reduction in R. rattus abundance and recover sooner from pest control programs. This three-part study investigated the habitat utilisation of M. musculus and how their relationship with R. rattus influences their habitat preferences. Firstly, hypotheses about the habitat preferences of M. musculus were tested over a landscape scale to determine the features of the environment most important to their distribution. Then the direct effect of R. rattus presence on M. musculus habitat-use was investigated in arena trials. Lastly, in the same arenas, canopy cover was tested as an indirect cue for M. musculus to evaluate the presence of R. rattus. Across 32 sites, M. musculus were the most abundant in warm dry habitats. North facing slopes and rank grass cover were the features of the environment that had the strongest relationship with abundance. In arenas M. musculus foraging activity was 52% lower in patches of short grass when R. rattus scent was present but foraging in rank grass and bare ground was not altered, suggesting activity was suppressed not competitive displacement. There were no significant changes in M. musculus foraging behaviour between different canopy treatments. Although a trend of nocturnal foraging activity dropping 26% when high canopy cover was over short grass compared to short grass patches with lower or no canopy treatments may indicate a risky habitat. M. musculus use of dense ground cover was common theme in this study and in the literature. R. rattus do influence the habitat selection of M. musculus though this was with direct presence more than indirect cues.</p>

Reproductive biology of the feral house mouse (Mus musculus) on subantarctic Macquarie Island

1993 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 745 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Pye
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
House Mouse ◽  
Mus Musculus ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Reproductive Seasonality ◽  
Macquarie Island ◽  
Physiological Variables ◽  
Average Litter Size ◽  
Summer Maximum ◽  
Breeding Condition

Reproduction of the feral house mouse (Mus musculus) was studied on subantarctic Macquarie Island and found to be seasonal. Females begin oestrus-cycling in early spring, following a minimum 3-month winter anoestrous period. By late spring all mature females are in breeding condition. Breeding is continuous through spring, summer and into autumn. Postimplantation loss occurs throughout the breeding season. Late autumn pregnancies may fail. Average litter size is 6-7 but litters as large as 10 have been found. Young born in the latter half of the breeding season attain sexual maturity at a later stage than those born in the early-spring-summer period and do not come into breeding condition until the following spring. Males show a slight cyclical change in testes weight, increasing from a winter minimum to a summer maximum, but are potentially capable of breeding throughout the year. Reproductive seasonality of the female determines breeding behaviour in this isolated subantarctic population of feral house mice. Seasonal reproduction is not well correlated with mean monthly ambient temperature, which varies by only 3O degrees C over the year. Food availability appears constant throughout the year with little interspecific competition for food or predation on the mice. Reproduction is suppressed over the short-day winter months. The possible interaction of photoperiod with other environmental and physiological variables in determining reproductive seasonality requires further research.

Using playback to estimate the distribution and density of the world's smallest flightless bird, the Inaccessible Island Rail Atlantisia rogersi

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
BEN J DILLEY ◽  
GEORGE SWAIN ◽  
JULIAN REPETTO ◽  
PETER G RYAN
Keyword(s):  
Mus Musculus ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Population Estimates ◽  
Species Status ◽  
Point Count ◽  
Tristan Da Cunha ◽  
Ship Rat ◽  
Rugged Topography ◽  
Central South ◽  
Accidental Introduction

Summary The Inaccessible Island Rail Atlantisia rogersi, the world’s smallest extant flightless bird, is endemic to Inaccessible Island, a 14-km2 uninhabited island in the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, central South Atlantic Ocean. Rail populations are notoriously hard to survey and the rugged topography of Inaccessible Island makes a survey particularly challenging. Fortunately, Inaccessible Island Rails are very vocal, because their secretive behaviour means birds are hard to observe in the dense vegetation. We assessed the distribution of rails across Inaccessible Island using playbacks at 350 point-count sites in October–November 2018. Rail calls were heard at 98% of sites and we estimate the rail population to be in the order of 10,300 birds (95% CI 9,100–12,200), based on estimated rail densities in the six main habitats. Historic population estimates were reasonably crude and thus not suitable for inferring population trends, but the population appears to be stable and we recommend the species’ status remains as ‘Vulnerable’. The accidental introduction of alien mammals poses the greatest threat to the survival of the Inaccessible Island Rail and the removal of house mouse Mus musculus and ship rat Rattus rattus from neighbouring Tristan da Cunha Island would greatly reduce the risk of such a catastrophe.

Early Cold Exposure: Effects on Behavioral and Physiological Thermoregulation in the House Mouse, Mus musculus

1976 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Robert Lynch ◽  
Carol Becker Lynch ◽  
Marjory Dube ◽  
Cynthia Allen
Keyword(s):  
House Mouse ◽  
Cold Exposure ◽  
Mus Musculus

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.

Mixed sex allocation strategies in a polytocous mammal, the house mouse (Mus musculus)

2011 ◽  
Vol 65 (12) ◽  
pp. 2209-2217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Dušek ◽  
Luděk Bartoš ◽  
František Sedláček
Keyword(s):  
House Mouse ◽  
Mus Musculus ◽  
Sex Allocation ◽  
Allocation Strategies ◽  
Polytocous Mammal
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