Population studies of the Malaysian wood rat (Ratus tiomanicus miller) in a cocoa-coconut plantation

K. A. Kamarudin

Abstract

The estimated population of Rattus tiomanicus in cocoa-coconut plantation presumably in a stable condition varied between 151 and 216 animals/ha (extrapolated from population estimates of 0.74-hectare). The rats were believed to be trap prone. and thus the population size was probably an underestimate. Survival rates between trapping intervals were high (0.5-1.0) . Recruitment was mostly via birth and equally divided among sexes. The proportion of potential breeders was comparatively high (65%-100%) as was the proportion of pregnant and lactating females. A total of 1 086 males and 741 females were tagged throughout the study. The mean growth rate of the population varied between the r values 0.2655 and -0.3643 (except for week 63 after field was accidently poisoned).

Full Text (1.13 MB)