Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

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Population Dynamics and Genetics of Gerbillus nigeriae in Central Sahel: Implications for Rodent Pest Control

Received: Sep. 17, 2019    Accepted: Oct. 21, 2019    Published: Oct. 31, 2019
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Abstract

Gerbillus nigeriae is a sand-dwelling and semi-arid adapted rodent species restricted to the West African Sahel where it causes extensive damages to cereal crops such as millet and sorghum. It also displays one of the most extensive floating chromosomal polymorphisms currently known in mammals, showing a non-random spatial distribution of diploid numbers (2N). We combined population dynamics and genetics to determine dispersal and mobility parameters of G. nigeriae in the species distribution range characterized by low 2N. To do so, we performed a three-year long population survey at Gangara, in the central east Niger. We used both time-dependent monitoring trough capture-mark-recapture (CMR) methods and genetic analyses performed on the 134 monitored individuals. CMR results showed low to very low population densities (maximum 27.5 individuals/ha) throughout the study. Abundance cycle was single-phased and strongly dependent on rainfall patterns. Mobility parameters showed very low individual mobility, with means of distance between successive (re) captures (DRS) and maximal distance between (re) captures (DMR) of 7.8 and 14.4 meters, respectively. Genetic analyses revealed significant isolation by distance as well as spatial structuration, thus confirming poor dispersal capacity. Our results are discussed in terms of rodent pest control in arid areas of Niger where cereal crops production is crucial for human food security.

DOI 10.11648/j.eeb.20190404.11
Published in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology ( Volume 4, Issue 4, December 2019 )
Page(s) 45-54
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Pest Rodent, Gerbillus nigeriae, Abundance, Mobility, Dispersal, Rodent Control, Niger

References
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    Hima Karmadine, Granjon Laurent, Gauthier Philippe, Ndiaye Arame, Brouat Carine, et al. (2019). Population Dynamics and Genetics of Gerbillus nigeriae in Central Sahel: Implications for Rodent Pest Control. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 4(4), 45-54. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20190404.11

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    Hima Karmadine; Granjon Laurent; Gauthier Philippe; Ndiaye Arame; Brouat Carine, et al. Population Dynamics and Genetics of Gerbillus nigeriae in Central Sahel: Implications for Rodent Pest Control. Ecol. Evol. Biol. 2019, 4(4), 45-54. doi: 10.11648/j.eeb.20190404.11

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    AMA Style

    Hima Karmadine, Granjon Laurent, Gauthier Philippe, Ndiaye Arame, Brouat Carine, et al. Population Dynamics and Genetics of Gerbillus nigeriae in Central Sahel: Implications for Rodent Pest Control. Ecol Evol Biol. 2019;4(4):45-54. doi: 10.11648/j.eeb.20190404.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.eeb.20190404.11,
      author = {Hima Karmadine and Granjon Laurent and Gauthier Philippe and Ndiaye Arame and Brouat Carine and Dobigny Gauthier},
      title = {Population Dynamics and Genetics of Gerbillus nigeriae in Central Sahel: Implications for Rodent Pest Control},
      journal = {Ecology and Evolutionary Biology},
      volume = {4},
      number = {4},
      pages = {45-54},
      doi = {10.11648/j.eeb.20190404.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20190404.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.eeb.20190404.11},
      abstract = {Gerbillus nigeriae is a sand-dwelling and semi-arid adapted rodent species restricted to the West African Sahel where it causes extensive damages to cereal crops such as millet and sorghum. It also displays one of the most extensive floating chromosomal polymorphisms currently known in mammals, showing a non-random spatial distribution of diploid numbers (2N). We combined population dynamics and genetics to determine dispersal and mobility parameters of G. nigeriae in the species distribution range characterized by low 2N. To do so, we performed a three-year long population survey at Gangara, in the central east Niger. We used both time-dependent monitoring trough capture-mark-recapture (CMR) methods and genetic analyses performed on the 134 monitored individuals. CMR results showed low to very low population densities (maximum 27.5 individuals/ha) throughout the study. Abundance cycle was single-phased and strongly dependent on rainfall patterns. Mobility parameters showed very low individual mobility, with means of distance between successive (re) captures (DRS) and maximal distance between (re) captures (DMR) of 7.8 and 14.4 meters, respectively. Genetic analyses revealed significant isolation by distance as well as spatial structuration, thus confirming poor dispersal capacity. Our results are discussed in terms of rodent pest control in arid areas of Niger where cereal crops production is crucial for human food security.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Population Dynamics and Genetics of Gerbillus nigeriae in Central Sahel: Implications for Rodent Pest Control
    AU  - Hima Karmadine
    AU  - Granjon Laurent
    AU  - Gauthier Philippe
    AU  - Ndiaye Arame
    AU  - Brouat Carine
    AU  - Dobigny Gauthier
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20190404.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.eeb.20190404.11
    T2  - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
    JF  - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
    JO  - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
    SP  - 45
    EP  - 54
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-3762
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20190404.11
    AB  - Gerbillus nigeriae is a sand-dwelling and semi-arid adapted rodent species restricted to the West African Sahel where it causes extensive damages to cereal crops such as millet and sorghum. It also displays one of the most extensive floating chromosomal polymorphisms currently known in mammals, showing a non-random spatial distribution of diploid numbers (2N). We combined population dynamics and genetics to determine dispersal and mobility parameters of G. nigeriae in the species distribution range characterized by low 2N. To do so, we performed a three-year long population survey at Gangara, in the central east Niger. We used both time-dependent monitoring trough capture-mark-recapture (CMR) methods and genetic analyses performed on the 134 monitored individuals. CMR results showed low to very low population densities (maximum 27.5 individuals/ha) throughout the study. Abundance cycle was single-phased and strongly dependent on rainfall patterns. Mobility parameters showed very low individual mobility, with means of distance between successive (re) captures (DRS) and maximal distance between (re) captures (DMR) of 7.8 and 14.4 meters, respectively. Genetic analyses revealed significant isolation by distance as well as spatial structuration, thus confirming poor dispersal capacity. Our results are discussed in terms of rodent pest control in arid areas of Niger where cereal crops production is crucial for human food security.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Departement of Biology, Abdou Moumouni University (UAM), Niamey, Niger

  • Center of Biology for Population Management (CBGP), Campus International de Baillarguet, Montferrier-sur-Lez, France

  • Center of Biology for Population Management (CBGP), Campus International de Baillarguet, Montferrier-sur-Lez, France

  • Laboratoy for Sudano-Sahelian Animal Populations, BIOPASS (UCAD-IRD-CIRAD-ISRA), Dakar, Sénégal

  • Center of Biology for Population Management (CBGP), Campus International de Baillarguet, Montferrier-sur-Lez, France

  • Center of Biology for Population Management (CBGP), Campus International de Baillarguet, Montferrier-sur-Lez, France

  • Section