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The biology and population ecology of the Namaqua dune mole-rat, Bathyergus janetta from the Northern Cape Province, South Africa
Dissertation (MSc (Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2002.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2024
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| _version_ | 1867613479290011648 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Bennett, Nigel Charles |
| author_browse | Bennett, Nigel Charles |
| author_facet | Bennett, Nigel Charles |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Dissertation (MSc (Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2002. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/99585 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:36:48.172Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publishDateRange | 2024 |
| publishDateSort | 2024 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/99585 The biology and population ecology of the Namaqua dune mole-rat, Bathyergus janetta from the Northern Cape Province, South Africa Bennett, Nigel Charles Herbst, Marna Namaqua dune mole-rat (Bathyergus janetta) Bathyergus Janetta Burrowing dynamics Seasonal breeder Microsatellites Relatedness UCTD Dissertation (MSc (Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2002. Bathyergus Janetta is a solitary subterranean rodent that occurs in the very restricted areas of Namaqualand. This bathyergid is able to survive the arid environment due to the predictable winter rainfall that gives rise to the high abundance and diversity of geophytes in the area. Burrowing dynamics and burrow system configuration was studied by the monitoring of mound production and the excavation of six burrow systems in mole-rats which had been marked by toe-clipping. Bathyergus Janetta burrows are about 45cm below ground and comprise nesting chambers, food stores, defecation sites and bolt holes. Males have a more linear shaped burrow system than females, probably to increase home ranges in search of a possible mate. Burrow systems undergo consistent excavation and re-excavation of tunnels within the home range and it appears that mole-rats have an optimum burrow length that ranges from 71.2m to 165m with an average home range of 805.86 ± 375.52m2 • Bathyergus Janetta is a seasonal breeder. Females exhibit an elevation in urinary progesterone and oestradiol-17~ concentrations and males a rise in testosterone that correlates with seasonal rainfall figures. After the winter rainfall, the soil is soft and moist and easily excavated. Bathyergus Janetta makes use of this opportunity not only to extend their burrow systems but also to search for possible mates. Plural occupancy by adult mole-rats was observed during the onset of the winter and pups and pregnant females were caught at the end of October and November. Microsatellites were used in an attempt to determine parentage and elucidate relatedness within a population of B. Janetta. It was not possible to assign parentage within the scope of the statistical program CERVUS due to the large number of putative parents, although it seems that multiple paternity of litters may occur. Individual Bathyergus Janetta exhibit low relatedness values suggesting that the population is outbreeding and comprises related and unrelated individuals. A highly significant correlation between the isolation of genetic and geographical distances was found which supports the assumption that the subterranean niche poses a limitation on the dispersal abilities of mole-rats. A comparison between populations of B. Janetta and B. suillus shows a clear distinction between the two species. Surprisingly the two populations of B. suillus (although 15- 20km apart) show a distinct genetic differentiation and a high genetic diversity within the populations when compared to the B. Janetta population. Zoology and Entomology MSc (Zoology) 2024-11-27T09:16:21Z 2024-11-27T09:16:21Z 21/11/19 2002 Dissertation http://hdl.handle.net/2263/99585 en © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | Namaqua dune mole-rat (Bathyergus janetta) Bathyergus Janetta Burrowing dynamics Seasonal breeder Microsatellites Relatedness UCTD The biology and population ecology of the Namaqua dune mole-rat, Bathyergus janetta from the Northern Cape Province, South Africa |
| title | The biology and population ecology of the Namaqua dune mole-rat, Bathyergus janetta from the Northern Cape Province, South Africa |
| title_full | The biology and population ecology of the Namaqua dune mole-rat, Bathyergus janetta from the Northern Cape Province, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | The biology and population ecology of the Namaqua dune mole-rat, Bathyergus janetta from the Northern Cape Province, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | The biology and population ecology of the Namaqua dune mole-rat, Bathyergus janetta from the Northern Cape Province, South Africa |
| title_short | The biology and population ecology of the Namaqua dune mole-rat, Bathyergus janetta from the Northern Cape Province, South Africa |
| title_sort | biology and population ecology of the namaqua dune mole rat bathyergus janetta from the northern cape province south africa |
| topic | Namaqua dune mole-rat (Bathyergus janetta) Bathyergus Janetta Burrowing dynamics Seasonal breeder Microsatellites Relatedness UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/99585 |