Title:

Micromammals and barn owls in the Free State, South Africa: prey distribution and predator behaviour

Publication Year:
2003
Abstract:

Barn owl pellets were collected from Koppies Darn, Soetdoring and Tussen die Riviere Nature Reserves between 1992 and 2000. The micromammalian component included 25 species (16 rodents, six insectivores, two bats, one elephant shrew), of which the most prominent were the multimammate mouse Mastomys coucha in Koppies Dam and Soetdoring, and the highveld gerbil Tatero brantsii at Tussen die Riviere. More support is provided for the inclusion of Saunders's vlei rat Otomys saundersiae in the Free State species list and range extensions are recorded for the tiny musk shrew Crocidura foscomurina and the forest shrew Myosorex varius. Regular collections from Soetdoring Silo during 1992-5 show a change in dominance from the Cape serotine bat Neuromicia capensis during the early part of the series to Mastomys coucha hereafter. Keywords: Barn owls, distribution, Free State, micromammals, South Africa.

Publication Title:

Navorsinge van die Nasionale Museum: Researches of the National Museum

Volume:
19
Issue:
1
Pages:
1-18
Item Type:
Journal Article
Language:
en
Files:

EIS custom tag descriptions