Densities and biomasses of non-fossorial southern African Savanna rodents during the dry season

Abstract

Dry season densities of small non-fossorial rodents in five different savanna habitats ranged from 11 to 41 animals ha^-1 with corresponding live weights ranging from 310 g to 1557 g ha^-1. Average biomasses of small frodents in two representative savanna types, Burkea and Acacia savanna, were 912 g ha^-1 and 816 g ha^-1 respectively. These biomasses were similar to or even exceeded biomasses of other important consumers (birds, cattle, impala, and grasshoppers) in the savanna. Due to allometric relationships 1 kg of small savanna rodents is equivalent in energy consumption to 8 kg of impala (Aepyceros melampus) or 12.7 kg of cattle. The potential effect of small rodents on the savanna is therefore much larger than previously thought and needs further investigation.