Dietary composition of rodents across different habitats in the Ukaguru Mountains, Tanzania

This study aimed at investigating the dietary composition of rodents in the Ukaguru Mountains, Tanzania. Micro-histological analysis of the stomach contents of rodents collected from various habitats was carried out. In the diet of Mastomys natalensis, Lemniscomys rosalia and Mus triton, seed/grain showed greater importance (>35%, >55% and 60% respectively), whereas for Lophuromys kilonzoi, plant materials were more important (>55%) than other categories. Seed/grains were more important (>20%) in the diet of Praomys delectorum, while plant materials were more important (>45%) in the diet of forest-dwelling L. kilonzoi. Food diversity for rodents in farmland was relatively low compared with forest-dwelling rodents. Our results indicated that the relatively low niche breadth observed in rodents caught in farms could be attributed to the major contribution of seed/grains to their diet while forest-dwelling rodents showed greater food diversity owing to the more heterogeneous and stable nature of forests compared with farms. The abundance of food resources in both habitats would have permitted coexistence of rodent species.

Automated summary

This study investigated the dietary composition of rodents in the Ukaguru Mountains, Tanzania. It found that different species of rodents had slight differences in dietary importance. Compared to rodents in farmland, forest-dwelling rodents showed higher food diversity, which could be attributed to the more heterogeneous and stable nature of forests. The abundance of food resources in both habitats allowed for the coexistence of rodent species.