Tasha Oosthuizen , Neville Pillay , Maria K. Oosthuizen
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Multimammate mice are prolific breeders, can cause significant agricultural damage, and are reservoir hosts for a number of pathogens. They are nocturnal and given their success in urbanised rural environments, we were interested in how they would respond to increasingly bright anthropogenic spaces. We evaluated the locomotor activity of southern multimammate mice (Mastomys coucha), under four treatments: in an outdoor enclosure with natural light and temperature fluctuations, in a laboratory under a standard light regime, and two artificial light at night (ALAN) regimes (2 Lux) of varying proximity. The study animals remained nocturnal for the duration of the experiments. They were more active under the laboratory conditions with lower day-time light levels compared to the outdoor treatment but reduced their activity under ALAN. When the night light originated remotely, activity levels decreased by more than 50%, whereas under direct ALAN from above the cages, there was a 75% decrease in activity. The onset of activity was later during the two LAN treatments. We concluded that Mastomys coucha is strongly averse to light and show severe behavioural and circadian responses to light at night. We predict that it is unlikely that Mastomys will flourish in cities, but that they could thrive in and around dark urbanised refugia.
多瘤小鼠繁殖力很强,可对农业造成严重破坏,还是许多病原体的宿主。它们是夜行性动物,鉴于它们在城市化的农村环境中的成功,我们对它们如何应对越来越明亮的人为空间很感兴趣。我们评估了南方多疣小鼠(Mastomys coucha)在四种情况下的运动活动:室外围栏中的自然光和温度波动、实验室中的标准光照制度以及两种不同距离的夜间人工光照(ALAN)制度(2 Lux)。实验期间,研究动物始终处于夜间活动状态。与室外处理相比,实验室条件下的白天光照水平较低,动物的活动更活跃,但在 ALAN 条件下活动减少。当夜间光线来自远处时,活动量减少了 50%以上,而在笼子上方直接照射 ALAN 的情况下,活动量减少了 75%。在两种局域网处理中,活动开始的时间都较晚。我们得出的结论是,Mastomys coucha对光线有强烈的反感,并在夜间对光线表现出严重的行为和昼夜节律反应。我们预测,仓鼠不太可能在城市中繁衍生息,但它们可以在黑暗的城市化避难所及其周围繁衍生息。
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Environmental Management is a journal for the publication of peer reviewed, original research for all aspects of management and the managed use of the environment, both natural and man-made.Critical review articles are also welcome; submission of these is strongly encouraged.