%0 Journal Article
%T Seed predation by nocturnal rodents in an African savanna ecosystem
%A Maxine F. Miller
%J African Zoology
%D 2012
%I 
%X ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The small mammal community in Acacia savanna consists of three omnivorous nocturnal rodent species, Mastomys nataIensis, Saccostomus campestris and Aethomys chrysophilus, which eat varying proportions of seed in their diet. From a seed removal experiment, it was found that rodents preferentially selected Acacia tortilis seeds. The annual Acacia seed consumption by rodents in a South African savanna ecosystem was analysed by using estimates of rodent population densities, diet composition, seed predation by captive rodents and published estimates of field metabolic rates. Total seed consumption was estimated to represent 1,6-4,1% of the annual seed crop of A. tortilis, 0,7-0,9% of the annual seed crop of A. nilotica and 9,3-25,0% of the annual seed crop of A. karroo. Granivory of A. nilotica seeds by rodents may have a negligible effect upon seedling recruitment. However, rodent predation of A. tortilis and A. karroo seeds may have important implications on seed survival and later seedling recruitment . ********* AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die kleinsoogdier-gemeensiknap Acacia-savanna bestaan uit drie naglewende omnivore knaagdierspesies, nl. Mastomys natalensis, Saccostomys campestris en Aethomys chrysophilus. Die dieet van die spesies bestaan uit vari rende proporsiesa van sade. Volgens die uitslae van 'n saadverwyderingsproef, het hierdie knaagdiere Acacia-sade verkies. Skattings van bevolkingsdigtheid, dieet-samestelling, saadpredasie deur knaagdiere in gevangenskap en gedokumenteerde metaboliese tempo's, is gebruik om die jaarlikse Acacia-saadverbruik deur knaagdiere in 'n Suid-Afrikaanse savannasisteem te bepaal .Die totale saadverbruik het 1,6-4,1%; 0,7-0,9% en 9,3-25,0%  van die onderskeidelike saadproduksie van A. torlilis, A. nilotica en A. karroo uitgemaak. Die verbruik van A. nilotica-sade deur knaagdiere het moontlik geen effek op saailingwerwing,terwyl predasie op A. torlilis en A. karroo moontlik belangrike gevolge toon in terme van saadoorlewing en saailingwerwing.
%K Seed predation
%K nocturnal rodents
%K African savanna ecosystem
%K Acacia savannah
%K omnivorous
%K rodent species
%K Mastomys nataIensis
%K Saccostomus campestris
%K Aethomys chrysophilus
%K Acacia seed consumption
%K A. tortilis
%K A. nilotica
%K seed survival
%U http://africanzoology.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/574