Annals of Arid Zone 29(4) : 303-311, 1990

SEASONAL FLUCTUATIONS OF SYMPA TRIC FIELDMUHIDS IN HISA f{

Y. SAXENA AND S.S. CHANDNA *

Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 302004

ABSTRACT

The present paoer reveals a general account of rodents and other animalstrapped during trapping schedule in wire-meshed traps (size 35 cm x 17 cm) inthree different sub-ecological pockets of Hisar area. Lesser bandicoot rat,Bandicota bengalensis; Indian gerbil, Tatero indico and short-tailed male rat,Nesokia indica were the predominant species of district Hisar, Bhiwani andRohtak, respectively. Howevcr, desert gerbils, Meriones hllrrianae weretrapped only from south western part of this area.

INTRODUCTION

To feed the evergrowing population it is desirable that a check on rodentpopulation be maintained. Keeping in view the varied rodent fauna of Haryana,studies were carried out on the sympatric species of Hisar.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Depending upon availability of water to cultivated fields three sub-ecologicalpockets (Gangwa, Bawani Khera and AnwaI) in Hisar commissionary were selcctedfor systematic trappings. To study their density, murids were trapped at weeklyintervals from the village fields of Gangwa (Dist. Hisar), Bawani Khera (Dist.Bhiwani) and Anwal (Dist. Rohtak). Random sampling was also made in thejurisdiction of Hisar cantonment and viIlages like Jandwala Bishnoiyan, Narel Khera(Dist. Sirsa), Titokheri, Rasidan (Dist. Jind), Hansi, Barwala (Dist. Hisar), Meham,Farmana (Dist. Rohtak). Bamla, Tosham (Dist. Bhiwani), Khudana, Dongli Kalan'(Dist. Mohindergarh).

Baits consisting of baked moist gram flour and bread slices were used alterna-tively during trapping schedule. An area measuring 40x25= 1000 m2 was markedat each instance for conducting trapping operations (Southern 1973). For systematictrappings 6 traps at each place of the three districts were kept. The size of the wiremeshed trap was 35 x 17 cm.

*Incharge, Scene of Crime Van,ejo DIG (Police), Hisar Range. Hisar (Haryana) 12500 I

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310 : SAXENA & CHANDNA

The prevalence and distribution of T. indica and M. hurrianae, the two types ofgerbils in two different but varying ecological niches can be attributed to the gradualchange in the irrigation facilities. Studies conducted by Garg and Chandna (1982)in the fields of Lalhana of Bhiwani district set a conclusion regarding theirpopulation size indices in the ratio of 5:4, respectively. Scanty population of desertgerbils as compared to Indian gerbils is outcome of better irrigation facilities whichhas been ventured through lift irrigation system followed by sprinkler irrigation.Moreover, resiIting in plain areas has changed the soil texture category of upper strataof soil. Jui Canal, Siwani Canal and J. L. Nehru Canal lift irrigation schemes wcrestarted after 1968 and Bhakra Canal after 1963.

C. Parturition in traps

During trappings parturition was observed in wire-meshed trap where a femaleB. benga/ensis gave birth to 16 young ones. This may indicate that even pregnantfemales get attracted towards baits or came for a suitable space to give birth toyoungones and thereafter could not escape from the trap. The young ones werenaked and blind.

D. Intra-inter specific competition and cannibalism (Broad-Spectrum)

Though interspecific competitions were reckoned to be significant in nature, yetintra-specific competition amongst the trapped species could not be ruled out. Duringstudies, it was observed that short tailed male rat, N. indica turned out to be highlycannibal that attacked not only other species of murids but also did not spare thecreatures of its own species. Lesser bandidoot rat, B. benga/ensis also showed itsaggressive behaviour. However, at certain occasions house rat, Rattus rattus weretrapped and these also did not lag behind in attacking even T. indica. However.T. indica killed its fellow beings. Similar aggressive behaviour was shown by shortfurred field rat, R. me/tada. Wirtz (1973) have depicted that captured Rattus exulansdisplayed varying degrees of tolerance towards each other. However, in some casestrapped pairs led to immediate and continuous aggression while some of them evenperformed coitus.

In the random trapping G. ellioti set a record by maintaining its supermacyespecially by killing M. hurrianae, T. indica and M. booduga. R. rattus attacked T.!ndica but dragged behind by N. indica maintained its position next to N. indica bycutting tails of T. indica and B. bengalensis but certainly killed M. booduga. Theorder of aggression had been in the order of N. indica, R. rattus, G. ellioti, T. indica,B. benga/ensis, M. hllrrianae, M. booduga and M. hllrrianae.

Slincus murinus caeru/ems attacked the species of T. indica even in trapsscheduled for trapping but Herpestes cut the bodies of rats into pieces when occasio-

nally trapped.

FLUCTUATIONS OF FIELD MURIDS' 311

REFERENCES

Chandna, S.S. and Garg, S.K. 1982. Rat fauna of Haryana. Agricultural ScienceDigest 2 : 85-87.

Garg, S.K. and Chandna, S.S. 1982. A note on the population of gerbils in irrigatedand un irrigated fields. Indian Journal of Ecology 9 : 153-155.

Pasahan, S.C. and Chandna, S.S. 1980-81. Seasonal prevalence of field murids inHisar (Haryana). Indian Journal of Rodentology 2 & 3 : 27-30.

Southern, H.N. 1973. A yardstick for measuring populations of small rodents.Mammual Review 3: 1-10.

Wirtz, W.O. II 1973. Growth and development of Rattus exualans. Journal ofMannalogy 54 : 189-202.