loading page

Sharing space between native and invasive small mammals: Study of commensal communities in Senegal
  • +13
  • Laurent Granjon,
  • Emmanuelle Artige,
  • Khalilou Bâ,
  • Carine Brouat,
  • Ambroise Dalecky,
  • Christophe Diagne,
  • Mamoudou Diallo,
  • Odile Fossati-Gaschignard,
  • Philippe Gauthier,
  • Mamadou Kane,
  • Laëtitia Husse,
  • Youssoupha Niang,
  • Sylvain Piry,
  • Nathalie Sarr,
  • Aliou Sow,
  • Jean-Marc Duplantier
Laurent Granjon
CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Univ Montpellier,

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Emmanuelle Artige
CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Univ Montpellier,
Author Profile
Khalilou Bâ
IRD
Author Profile
Carine Brouat
CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Univ Montpellier,
Author Profile
Ambroise Dalecky
Institut de recherche pour le developpement
Author Profile
Christophe Diagne
CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Univ Montpellier,
Author Profile
Mamoudou Diallo
IRD
Author Profile
Odile Fossati-Gaschignard
CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Univ Montpellier,
Author Profile
Philippe Gauthier
CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Univ Montpellier,
Author Profile
Mamadou Kane
IRD
Author Profile
Laëtitia Husse
IRD
Author Profile
Youssoupha Niang
IRD
Author Profile
Sylvain Piry
CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Univ Montpellier,
Author Profile
Nathalie Sarr
IRD
Author Profile
Aliou Sow
IRD
Author Profile
Jean-Marc Duplantier
CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Univ Montpellier,
Author Profile

Abstract

Urbanization processes are taking place at a very high rate, especially in Africa, these. At the same time, a number of small mammal species, be they native of invasive, take advantage of these human-induced habitat modifications. They represent commensal communities of organisms that cause a number of inconveniences to humans, including as potential reservoirs of zoonotic diseases. We studied via live trapping and habitat characterization such commensal small mammal communities in small villages to large cities of Senegal, to try understand how the species share this particular space. Seven major species were recorded, with exotic invasive house mice (Mus musculus) and black rats (Rattus rattus) dominating in numbers. The shrew Crocidura olivieri appeared as the main and more widespread native species, while native rodent species (Mastomys natalensis, M. erythroleucus, Arvicanthis niloticus and Praomys daltoni) were less abundant and/or more localized. Habitat preferences, compared between species in terms of room types and characteristics, showed differences between house mice, black rats and M. natalensis especially. Niche (habitat component) breadth and overlap were measured. Among invasive species, the house mouse showed a larger niche breadth than the black rat, and overall, all species displayed high overlap values. Co-occurrence patterns were studied at the locality and local scales. The latter show cases of aggregation (between the black rat and native species, for instance) and of segregation (as between the house mouse and the black rat in Tambacounda, or between the black rat and M. natalensis in Kédougou). While updating information on commensal small mammal distribution in Senegal, a country submitted to a dynamic process of invasion by the black rat and the house mouse, we bring original information on how species occupy and share the commensal space, and make predictions on the evolution of these communities in a period of ever-accelerating global changes.
28 Jun 2023Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
30 Jun 2023Submission Checks Completed
30 Jun 2023Assigned to Editor
11 Jul 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
26 Jul 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
03 Aug 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
18 Aug 20231st Revision Received
19 Aug 2023Submission Checks Completed
19 Aug 2023Assigned to Editor
19 Aug 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
04 Sep 2023Editorial Decision: Accept