FSM-TIMES, Write an Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Email To: [email protected]

FSM-TIMES, Write an Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Email To: Info@Stripedmouse.Com

Nr. 2, January to March 2005

F F SSMM--TTIIMMEESS

Four Striped Mouse

Title The Striped Mouse

Diploma thesis in Goegap – and the advantages for students

Mouse portrait: Male BlackBlackBlack

Snak y summer

The Pee-Shrub

Fundin g of Research: Call for donations

EDITORIAL

EDITOR Dr. Carsten Schradin, Visiting Researcher, SUBSCRIPTION AND FEES School of Animal, Plant and Environmental To subscribe to the FSM-TIMES, write an Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, email to: [email protected]. In the Johannesburg, South Africa. Brigitte Britz, subject field write “FSM-TIMES Research Station, Goegap. subscription”. No more text is needed. You will then get the FSM-TIMES four times a ADDRESS year as an email attachment. Subscription to Goegap Nature Reserve, Succulent Karoo the FSM-TIMES is free of charge. However, Research Station, Private Bag X1, we would welcome donations of R 80 (10 Springbok 8240, South Africa. Euro, 15 US dollars) a year to contribute to [email protected] our research project here at the Succulent Karoo Research Station in South Africa. HOMEPAGE Larger donations are welcome too. To Under construction at unsubscribe, write an email to http://www.stripedmouse.com. [email protected], and write in the subject field “CANCEL FSM-TIMES”. PUBLICATION DATES The FSM-TIMES will be published quarterly, in January, April, July and October. The COPYRIGHT AND EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FSM-TIMES will be sent as email- All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or attachment in pdf. On request, hardcopies in part without written permission of editor is can be sent as regular mail (costs including prohibited. The FSM-TIMES and editor are printing and postage: R 250/ year in South excluded from any form of liability. Africa, 35 Euro or 40 dollars overseas).

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE 3 WELCOME: THE SECOND ISSUE OF THE FSM-TIMES! 5 SPRINGBOK/ THE CAPITAL OF NAMAQUALAND 6 LETTERS 7 NAMAQUALAND-WEATHER 8 THE PEOPLE IN GOEGAP 9 How to become a field assistant 9 Diploma thesis in Goegap / advantages for students 12 TITLE: THE STRIPED MOUSE: IDEAL MODEL TO STUDY PATERNAL CARE, REASONS OF GROUP LIVING AND SOCIAL FLEXIBILITY 24 NEWS AND INFORMATION ABOUT PLANTS AND ANIMALS 24 Mouse portrait: male BlackBlackBlack 27 Bird portrait: the jackal buzzard 28 Snaky summer 32 Plant Portrait: the pee-shrub 33 Zoologist going astray 37 VISITORS 36 CONFERENCES, PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS 38 FUNDING OF RESEARCH: CALL FOR DONATIONS

41 THE MOUSE’S TAIL

2 WELCOME: THE SECOND ISSUE OF THE FSM-TIMES!

To get the first social behaviour, ecology and issue of the FSM- evolution. I did my homework, as TIMES running was harder than I proven by >80 subscriber. But I thought. Writing the would like to ask you once more to articles was easy, send the FSM-TIMES or the link to but formatting the the homepage where it can be text and getting it downloaded into an acceptable pdf was (http://www.stripedmouse.com) to all surprisingly time consuming. And then other people that might be something happened which I thought never interested. Let’s make our goal to really happens: Most of the emails sent out have at least 200 subscribers for the were not received! But finally the FSM- next issue! TIMES and its German sister, the SGM- Spiegel was sent out into the world. When one looks at the subscribers But was it worth all the effort? In the from the different states, one easily first issue of the FSM-TIMES I had notices’ that some are clearly stated two aims: underrepresented, especially the 1. To provide information about our USA; but also the UK, France and Italy. Maybe for people from the USA work at the Succulent Karoo 1 Research Station and the research and UK the poor-poor English of this on small mammals. We aim to newsletter makes it hard to read? provide you with entertaining SGM-Spiegel SM-TIMES scientific information, that would be Country Subscribers Subscribers Australia 2 enjoyed by everyone interested in Argentina 1 nature, and not only (but also) by Belgium 1 scientists. Benin 1 2. To obtain funding for smaller Canada 1 scientific projects from donations of Columbia 1 the FSM-TIMES subscribers. Congo 1 In the meantime, more than 80 Germany 21 France 2 people from 20 countries subscribed. Italy 1 Thus, the first aim has been already Namibia 1 met. I think you and all the other Netherlands 2 subscribers make it worthwhile Peru 1 producing the FSM-TIMES. Phillipines 1 However, of the more than 80 Switzerland 92 subscribers, only 4 did not get an South Africa 123 email regarding the FSM-TIMES Sri Lanka 1 UK 3 from myself. Clearly, there must be USA 5 many people out there I do not know Zambia 1 that are interested in nature, rodent unknown 5

3 However, I would like to appeal to course subscription to the FSM- the people of those countries to take TIMES is free and for many part in the race and improve their subscribers, like from South countries share on subscription. American and many African The second aim was to collect countries, it is not possible to donate. donations for research. As no bank But donations from all others are accounts were available yet, this was warmly welcome (for more details not possible so far. This lead to see below). I hope with this issue of some confusion and disappointment, the FSM-TIMES you’ll get something as many people immediately wanted back for your money. to contribute. I got several emails asking for banking details and it was difficult for me to keep one lady in Kind regards, Springbok from putting bank notes into my pockets. But the good news Carsten Schradin is that now you can contribute. Of

THE DIFFERENT PLACES AND LOCATIONS South Africa As the name says, it is the most southern country in Africa. South Africa lies at the Cape of Good Hope. The population of South Africa (40 million) consists of black South Africans (e.g. the Zulu) which represent 75% of the population. 12% are white, 8% coloured, and some are Indian, Malaysian or descendents of the San (bushman). South Africa is the only industrialized country in Africa with a very good infrastructure.

Succulent karoo It describes a special vegetation type. It receives low rainfall in winter and is characterized by dwarf succulent shrubs and an amazing wildflower display in spring. It is a desert to semi-desert environment. Succulent karoo is found in Namaqualand and southern Namibia. In the FSM- TIMES, the words succulent karoo and Namaqualand are often used as synonyms.

Namaqualand It is situated in the northwest of South Africa, between Cape Town and Namibia. Famous for its wildflower display in spring, Namaqualand was one of the world’s most important copper mining areas at the beginning of the 20th century. Nowadays the diamond mines are more important. Because of its dry desert like climate, agriculture is mainly absent and population density low. Namaqualand is part of the Northern Cape Province.

Springbok It is the capital of Namaqualand. Although Springbok has only around 20 000 inhabitants, it has shops for nearly everything, including two well stocked supermarkets. At weekends Springbok is very busy, when all Namaqualanders come here to do their shopping.

Goegap Nature Reserve Pronounced as “Guchap“, this nature reserve lies only 20kms outside of Springbok. In spring it is visited by thousands of tourists that are attracted by its wildflower display. During other times of the year it is very quite and mountain zebra, gemsbok, springbok, aardwolf, mice and mice researchers live in peace.

Field Site

4 This is the place in nature where the scientist collects his data. So our field site is where we observe the mice

SPRINGBOK – THE CAPITAL OF development into a town lie in the NAMAQUALAND 19th century, when copper was found in Namaqualand. In 1852, By Melanie Schubert Philipy and King opened the first copper mine and the little farm was The bus was driving slower and a soon developing into an ever soft rattling woke me up. Still sleepy I growing village. Nowadays this opened my left eye, juts in time to village is a town and the capital of read the sign “Welcome to Namaqualand. It is the centre of Springbok”. Finally I got here, and administration, trade and (very little) full of curiosity I was watching with industry for this region. Here you will wide open eyes what there was to find two big and well stocked see. Looking out of the window, I supermarkets and shops for nearly soon felt disappointed and a bad everything. Springbok has also feeling developed in my gut: This historic attractions for tourists. You little town surrounded by brown hills can visit old mine shafts, graves from seemed to be nothing else than a the “Anglo-Boer war“ and the oldest 1km long main road. Where were the melting furnace in Southern Africa. African colours in this dry Furthermore, the Namaqualand wilderness? Museum gives you an insight into the However, soon I realized that I had history of Springbok. If you are misjudged this little town interested in animal and plant life, enormously. Within a few days I you will find a heaven on earth, found out that Springbok has a lot to especially in spring. This is the time offer. The people are quiet but when hundreds of wildflower species friendly and extremely helpful. cover the land with spectacular Springbok, its original name was colours and young antelopes make Springbokfontein, started as a simple their first experiences of life. farm. The reasons for its

In the next FSM-TIMES you will learn more about Namaqualand with the title: HOLIDAY AND TRAVEL IN NAMAQUALAND.

Main street in Springbok.

LETTERS

Please tell us your opinion about the second issue of the FSM-TIMES. Your mail has been received and I Congratulations on your new can only wish for the success of the publication - FSM-Times. Being an same program. I wish that with time it editor can be lots of fun (except just will grow to cover other areas of the before the deadline). I wish you African continent especially the success in building the Succulent Zambezian region that is very rich in Karoo station. biodiversity, and I further hope that I may be able to contribute favourable Dr. Barbara Blake, Editor of the to sharing FSM TIMES with more Journal of Mammalogy interested groups.

Mathias Kawalika M.Sc., Ndola, Zambia.

6 I received the newsletter through Very, very groovy newletter.....the ASAB and enjoyed it very much - you striped mouse grows in fame and have done a very good job on it. hopefully the research program grows in fortune.... Dr. Craig Roberts, Liverpool Dr. Devi Stuartfox, Johannesburg, South Africa

NAMAQUALAND-WEATHER by Carsten Schradin

The last three months October November December

Minimum temperatures

night 10 12 14

day 16 21 27

Maximum temperatures

night 20 25 22

day 33 36 36

Rainfall in mm 22.5 0.2 0

Days with rain 4 2 0 Although we received some rain in severe problem for the animals in October, November and December it Goegap. was very little. Together with a The temperatures were normal, but relatively dry winter, this had we had some very hot periods. consequences on the vegetation. Especially in November there were Goegap became very dry again, two weeks with temperatures far most of the annual plants have died above 30 degrees every day. and the plant cover is very low. Only Fortunately, afterwards a cold front the shrubs and some succulents came from the Atlantic. Also the remained. However, for a small beginning of December was pretty animal like the striped mouse there hot, again followed by a cold front. It is still enough food, but the coming was so cold, that we even had to months will be rather tough. But in wear a jacket in the morning when how far the drought will be a problem doing nest observations. Still, it was for them will be decided in autumn: warm enough to have a lovely braai When the first rain comes in March, (=BBQ) on Christmas Eve. it will be fine. If not, there will be a

The field site in December: It got very dry again.

THE PEOPLE IN GOEGAP

By Carsten Schradin

The last three months were very three months they were Annette busy. Melanie, Christina and Carola Wiedon from the University of finished their data collection for their Münster and Eva Kraus from the diploma theses. After six months of University of Erlangen (both hard field work it became evident Germany). Annette was very helpful, that three very good projects had always willing to help with all aspects emerged. They left middle of at the research station. This was not December and are currently writing only of benefit for the data collection, up their theses in Germany. In one of but also for the student’s kitchen. the following FSM-TIMES we will The hills and mountains of dirty publish summaries of their work. dishes started to disappear and after Such a large amount of data could some time one was able to see the only be collected because the bottom of the kitchen sink again. diploma students got significant help Annette spent the nights with from the field assistants. In the last Christina trapping small mammals at

8 10 different sites in Goegap, while mice at a neighbouring farm and – she radio-tracked mice during the after several disappointing days – day, conducted plant surveys and finally found a viable small observed mice at their nest. At the population, which could be included end she had her own little project, into future studies. She also trapping round-eared elephant measured temperature in mouse shrews along a dry river bed next to dummies (copper tubes covered with the field site. Although population mouse skin) at natural basking sites density was low and so was trapping of mice. The models warmed up by 7 success, the pilot study revealed that degrees more than the ambient there are enough elephant shrews temperature, and this effect was living for a potential larger study in even stronger when piloerection was the future. simulated (by brushing the mouse Eva radio-tracked several mice to skin the wrong way with a tooth- determine their home ranges, brush). It appears that basking in the assisted with trapping and observing sun could be a good strategy to the mice. She conducted two warm up passively and to save important pilot studies: She trapped energy.

Field assistants: Annette Wiedon (left) and Eva Krause

9 MAKING A DIPLOMA THESIS IN GOEGAP –ADVANTAGES FOR STUDENTS

By Carola Schneider How to become a field assistant? Only people with a biological When the end of your studies is near background can become field you will question yourself where to assistants. These are students of make your diploma thesis. For me it biology, veterinary medicine or was easy to answer this question as related areas. The work of field I had made a practical training as assistants includes: radio- field assistant for 8 weeks in Goegap tracking, trapping and marking of in year before. After making this small mammals, behavioural decision I had to face reality. I had to observations, work at the organize some money for the research station, including diploma thesis myself, I had to maintenance, and much more. organize the journey to South Africa, People interested in working as a I needed a visa and I had to stay for field assistant for 2-3 months months far away from home. So write an email to what advantages do you get? While [email protected]. Please organising many things in my home write a short motivation and country Germany, I realized that it is attach a CV. You will then obtain important to apply for several permits more information. and letters from the University, the government, the doctor and so on in a very short time. This is hard work diploma students in Germany do not have to bother with, but it is an important exercise if you want to work as a scientist later. Another important experience is to apply for research money at foundations so you can finance part of your diploma thesis, as you won’t get money from German universities to do a diploma insight into other research fields and thesis abroad and South African to exchange your experiences. universities are not keen on People in Namaqualand speak only financing the thesis of a Germans English and Afrikaans so here you student. So you have to write will have to communicate in English. applications and that’s a good This is also an advantage because exercise for work as a scientist later. most scientific publications are in When you arrive in Goegap you English and nowadays even in have to write your diploma thesis, Germany diploma theses are often organise and improvise, work in a written in English. Besides this you team and you need to be flexible in get an insight into the life of the all parts of life. From all over the people of Namaqualand and there is world scientists come to visit Goegap the possibility to make some trips to and you have the possibility to get an discover the fascinating landscape.

10 Of course working in Goegap is and look at the wonderful sky…isn’t physically hard and you need a lot of this enough to make working in patience. But after walking home Goegap Nature Reserve a real after a hard day in the field you can pleasure? sit at the open fire behind the house

A GOEGAP EXPERIENCE phone call/ email once/ twice a week is something exiting to look forward By Brigitte Britz too. In return for the “inconvenience” you In the previous issue you were told experience in Goegap it also offers about the outlay and day to day its visitors some amazing functioning of the research station. experiences. Some one you could Some people prefer the easy life treasure for a lifetime and also use it where everything is available, as a learning experience. There is so accessible and fast. Goegap is quite much to see and learn here. Getting a different story and for some people up early in the morning is a drag (its it could be a drag and for others an hard at first especially if you have to adventure, depending on how you get up at 5.30 am) but to smell the see it. You were told that there is no freshness of the morning and electricity, telephone or fresh water. watching how the earth and Quite primitive, but somehow if you everything around you comes to life, think about it, you don’t really need makes it a worthwhile experience. all these fancy things. While doing nest observations in the We have solar power for the lights, evenings, you could suddenly spot batteries to run the computers, some “shy” animals you don’t drinking water from the office (about normally observe so easily like the 5kms away) / bottled water (from mountain zebra or an African wild Springbok). We get some cat. Even for people not studying underground water for showers, we science, it is amazing to observe have gas for the geyser and the how many characteristics these stove and to be quite frank, there is small mammals seem to share with really no difference, whether you humans, and these little guys often shower with water heated by gas/ make our day. An example would be electricity, and a meal prepared with of female 560 who wanted to hitch a gas do taste the same as one lift with Carsten to the office but prepared on an electric stove (in fact, unfortunately was discovered on the famous chefs cook on gas stoves). passenger seat before Carsten could There is no telephone here so leave the station, or the pygmy therefore you either have to go to the mouse who joined the Christmas office to make phone calls or go braai (BBQ) and had its own piece of once a week to Springbok to receive/ meat, which was twice the size of the send emails. For some people it is a pygmy mouse, or the striped mouse hassle. However, for us a ringing who would run up to you in the phone is not a pain in the neck, but a afternoons when she doesn’t see

11 any peanut butter in front of her falling asleep on a mattress on the nests. (During the breeding season a ground. (Hopefully you would fall small amount of peanut butter is asleep soon as possible and thus not placed on a scale in front of the nest think of all the possible creepy to weigh the females and as such crawlies that might want to share determine if they are pregnant or your bed with you!) already gave birth). The amazing This is just to mention a few things bright stars in the crisp cold evenings one could experience in Goegap. of winter or the warm summer Unfortunately, we cannot email/ mail evenings would entice any star this experience to you; you would watching amateur and not to mention have to come here to experience it watching a movie under the clear sky yourself! while having a braai and afterwards

TITLE: THE STRIPED MOUSE IDEAL MODEL TO STUDY PATERNAL CARE, REASONS FOR GROUP LIVING AND SOCIAL FLEXIBILITY

By Carsten Schradin

Distribution and Characteristics stripes. The basic colour is brown that ranges from very light to very Apart from humans, the striped dark. However, geographical mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio), also differences in brown darkness might called the four-striped mouse or be due to environmental, not genetic even the four-striped grass mouse, is differences. For example striped probably the most common mammal mice in the succulent karoo are in Southern Africa. Its distribution much darker than in the grasslands ranges even within East Africa, of KwaZulu Natal, but in captivity where it is mainly restricted to high there is no difference. For a mouse attitudes, e.g. Mt. Kilimanjaro in species the striped mouse is medium Tanzania. This species is so wide sized, about 30-40g as adults, spread, because they can live in a although large individuals can weight wide range of different habitats: over 80g, in captivity even more. As Green and moist grasslands, the such, it is about double the size of a Kalahari and the Namib desert, house mouse. However, in contrast karoo and succulent karoo, mountain to this species the striped mouse is areas and even at the edge of diurnal, being active during the day. forests. It got its name from four dark In winter mice are active during the stripes on its back, separated by entire day, while in summer the mice three lighter, sometimes even white

12 rest during the hot parts of the day expensive model where it is difficult and are mainly active during the to get good sample sizes, especially morning and late afternoon. The when working in the field. As I found striped mouse is the only species of some evidence in the literature that its genus Rhabdomys, although the striped mouse might show recently it had been proposed that it paternal care, I came as a postdoc to actually consists of two sister South Africa to investigate this. I species, one inhabiting the arid soon found out that this species is in areas of the east and the other one fact highly paternal, with males the moist grasslands of the west. showing the same parental There are clearly genetic differences behaviour patterns as females and to between these populations, which is the same extend, with the obvious not surprising as they are more than exception of nursing. However, this 1000kms apart from each other. was in captivity, and could have However, in how far these been an artefact of the unnatural differences justify the nomination of conditions under which the animals a new species is still under debate. had been kept. In fact, the striped mouse had been studied for decades

in the moist grasslands of South Africa, and seemed to be a solitary species. Males were thought to search for females to mate with them, but not to participate in parental care. However, as the striped mouse occurs in many different habitats, I decided to study it in the wild in a habitat very different from the moist grasslands: In the succulent karoo, a semi-desert to desert in the North West of South Africa. As study site I chose the Goegap Nature Reserve near Springbok, because another scientist, Tim Jackson from the University of Pretoria, had studied whistling rats there and reported that striped mice are common in this A female carries her young to the new nest. reserve. The results I got within fife months were astonishing, at least I was very A group living solitary forager in surprised by what I found: One of the the succulent karoo most complex and interesting social I had done my PhD thesis about systems described for a rodent. The paternal care in New World mice were group living here. They monkeys. I thought this is a very shared one nest in a shrub and in interesting topic, but primates are an the morning I could see up to 30

13 A group of mice are basking in front of their nest. We mark mice individually with hair dye. Colours at the back indicate males, at the front females. In front you see male 33 and female 23. adult mice of both sexes leaving their mouse was from another group, it nest, basking in front of it. They was chased away aggressively. interacted highly amicable with each Males were especially aggressive other, sitting in body contact or against other males, while females grooming each other. Then, after chased males as likely as females. about 20-30 minutes of basking in Mice were highly aggressive when the sun, they left. Not as a group, but they encountered a stranger that every mouse into another direction. was smaller than them, while a During the day they were foraging bigger mouse at the territory alone, and met again during the late boundary was not attacked. afternoon at their nest. Here they However, in front of their nests greeted each other by sniffing at strangers even double the size were each other and they basked in the immediately taken care of and sun, before withdrawing into the chased out of the territory. nest. When two mice met during the day, they did not pay much attention to each other when they were from the same group. However, when the

14 A wild male (right) takes care of a pup that has been experimentally presented to him in front of his nest. One juvenile male (front) is also interested, while two more juveniles (back) are watching from a distance. Communal nesting and paternal A group has 2-4 breeding females. care These females originate from the same group, which means they are Groups typically consisted of one close kin such as sisters or half breeding male and up to four sisters, while the breeding male breeding females. The male was originates from another group. All or hereby highly sociably, showing as most adult females of a group give much social interactions with birth, and often more than 10 juveniles as females did. They even juveniles of about the same size can retrieved pups presented in front of be observed in front of a nest. As a their nest into their nest. Videotaping female normally gets only 5 pups, inside two natural nests indicated these juveniles must have had at that the males were sleeping with the least two mothers. Sometimes a rest of the group, and that they female leaves the group nest to give showed parental care in the nest. birth elsewhere and only returns with Thus, our observations of paternal the pups when those are around 10 care in captivity were no artefacts, days old. But in other cases it seems but male parental care also occurs in that more than one female gives the field.

The pups leave their nest (here an abandoned whistling rat burrow) already at an age of 10-12 days, but first only to bask in front of it. At an age of 16 days they leave the nest for foraging. birth in the same nest and that Potential reasons for group living females rear their offspring The complex social system of striped communally. mice in the succulent karoo can best The offspring remains in their be describes as a territorial group natal group even after reaching living solitary forager with communal adulthood. This is the case both for nesting, paternal care and helpers at males as well as for females. the nest. Why did such a complex Interestingly, these offspring social system evolve? normally do not start to reproduce There are two reasons for this themselves, even when they are complex social system: 1. High sexually mature and the breeding population density leading to habitat season is not yet over. Both juvenile saturation and forced philopatry, and and adult offspring help in nest 2. short breeding season leading to construction, territory defence and the absence of reproductive warming younger pups in the nest. competition for most time of the year. Thus, they can be called helpers at the nest.

16 High population density in spring after the winter rains most of the land is covered by short living After the breeding season, more plants, especially wildflowers, but than 200 striped mice can live per this lasts only for three months. hectare. This means the territories of Afterwards shrubs and succulents groups are very small, only 0.1 to 0.3 dominate the landscape, but a large ha, or 10x10 to 18x18 meters. amount of the soil simply consists of Groups within such territories consist plain sand. So one might think the of 8-30 adult mice, and each territory mice might have a problem to find is surrounded by other territories, food. However, although there is not which are also heavily packed with much growing, nearly everything that mice. As mice travel between 300 is growing, is mouse food. Of 51 and 1000 meters a day and because plant species at my field site, 32 are it is such a small area, they often eaten by the mice. And during spring encounter mice from other groups. there is more than enough food Such encounters are typically available, and the mice get really fat. aggressive, and juveniles have only The heaviest striped mice ever have one choice when meeting an adult been trapped at my field site (over and thus much larger stranger: Run 80g, both for males and for females). away as fast as possible! This During the following dry summer means, young mice learn very they loose 12% of body mass, but quickly that there is no place where that simply means they arrive at a they can go to, they have to stay at body mass normal for other home! The stressful encounters with populations. Then the autumn rains aggressive mice from other groups start and new mouse food is are also the likely reason why adult growing. offspring do not start to show signs of reproduction. Living in a group has also advantages that increase the But why is the population density so survival probability of mice. First they high? This is so because the survival share one nest, and the sleep probability of mice is extraordinarily closely huddled together. Even in high. More than 20% of the mice summer nights it can get relatively survive for more than one year. 20% cold in the succulent karoo, down to might sound small, but for a small only 10 degrees, which is not much mammal this is very high. The same for a small mammal. In winter frost is species in the grasslands has an common. The mice form a real ball annual survival probability ten times of mice in the nest, warming each smaller, with only about 2% surviving other. By this they reduce energy for more than one year. And the loss and thus save energy reasons for this good survivor in the themselves. While videotaping wild succulent karoo are good food mice over entire nights in time-lapse availability and benefits of group mode, I further found out that they living. are not sleeping very tight. In fact, at The succulent karoo is dry, with only least one group member seems to 150mm of rain a year at my field site. be relatively awake all the time. A Accordingly, plant cover is low. But mouse nest never gets really quiet,

17 not even after midnight. This reach a body weight of 40-50g. probably serves as a warning However, in the succulent karoo this system, as the approach of a means that when a mouse gets potential predator is more easily sexually mature, the breeding realized when one the group is season is nearly over. Habitat always awake and serves as a saturation forces them to stay at sentinel. The nests are built from hay home. At the end of the breeding and are above ground inside shrubs. season, when most mice born during Thus, they are relatively easily that year are still juveniles, accessible for snakes. While a single reproductive competition between (sleeping) mouse might not realize group members reaches zero. As the when a snake approaches during the breeding season is terminated, night, a group of several mice with nobody breeds, and there is no one always awake will easily realize potential for competition over when a predator approaches and breeding status between group flee out of the nest. members. Thus, at this stage staying in the natal group is not associated

with any costs or conflict due to Short breeding season reproductive competition, but mice The seasons in the succulent karoo can enjoy benefits of group-living. are dictated by the rain that occurs in One reason why juvenile and adult winter. Winter is pretty cold, with offspring staying at home show temperatures below 0, which might helping behaviour is simply because explain why breeding of the striped this comes at no great costs. Helping mice (and most other animals) only to build a nest means they also build starts in spring. Spring is their own nest, and warming and characterized by a high percentage huddling pups during the night of plant cover, mainly wildflowers means at the same time they warm and herbs. In September (spring on themselves. So far we do not know the southern Hemisphere), whether helpers increase their time Namaqualand is covered in a in the nest during the day when pups colourful coat of yellow, blue and are present, which would be a real orange, the colours of hundreds of cost. Defence of the group territory species of wildflowers. However, this and nest is clearly a dangerous richness is of short duration, and in behaviour, but again the individual November the country turns desert itself benefits directly. Thus, helping again. The short season of the plenty behaviour of striped mice can to a determines also the breeding season large extend be explained by direct of the mice. The breeding season is individual benefits. only 3 months long, enabling Similarly male parental care can be females to get 2-3 litters (interbirth explained by its low costs. Males are interval minimum of 23 days). Mice associated to groups of 2-4 breeding get sexually mature when they are females. They monopolize these only 6-8 weeks old and have a body groups by aggressively chasing weight of 25g, although they still away all strange males from their grow for several weeks until they territory. Neighbouring groups of

18 communally nesting females are costly, as he cannot defend his defended by other males, and no territory during that time. But the male can defend more than one main reasons for paternal care can group of females. Thus, the male be seen in its low costs, as males spends all its time at the nest of his are anyway associated with pups, group of communally nesting and its resulting benefit, i.e. females. And this is where the pups improved development of pups. are. As the male is at the same place as the pups, it does not cost him any time to take care of them. His main Other habitats – other habits: The contribution might be warming the striped mouse in the grasslands pups, and his presence positively In the succulent karoo, the striped influences the development of pups. mouse is living in complex social He contributes as much as females groups. This result was surprising, to raise the pups, the high energetic as many previous studies in costs of lactation not taken into grasslands have reported a solitary account. Males also visit the nest lifestyle for the same species. during the day, which might be However, there was one important

The vegetation of the grasslands in South Africa is very different from the succulent karoo. Although it looks nicely green, there is little food for mice, which cannot digest grass.

19 difference between previous studies cannot digest grass! Instead they and my study: Other studies totally feed on grass seeds, herbs and relied on capture-mark-recapture, i.e. berries, and this food is widely researchers trapped mice, marked distributed and sparse. This might them, and looked where else the explain our surprising results from same individuals were trapped. In radio-tracking: The territories of contrast, I used direct observations. females in the grasslands were 6 As in the succulent karoo the striped times larger than those of females in mouse is group living but a solitary the succulent karoo. Furthermore, forager, I wondered whether this territory was not shared with any previous studies in grasslands got other mice and the females normally the wrong impression. Thus, I had to slept alone. Only sometimes they go there and investigate myself. were visited by a male, but only for a few nights, not permanently. The Of course direct behavioural males had even larger home ranges observations in the grasslands are than the females. Their home ranges impossible: the vegetation is much overlapped those of several females, too dense. So I had to find another and they visited one female after the method to compare the two other, probably for mating. So our populations, and the method of study confirmed the results of other choice was radio-tracking. Mice got researchers: The striped mouse in some radio-transmitters on, and we the grasslands is solitary! determined their home ranges. The question was whether several mice overlap their home ranges, i.e. form Social flexibility also in the groups, or have excusive home succulent karoo ranges. We intruded even more into their privacy and radio-tracked them We suspected high population at night, to see whether they were density due to a high survival sleeping alone or in groups. probability and the short breeding seasons as the reasons for group To work in the grasslands I went to living in the succulent karoo. In Kamberg Nature Reserve in the contrast, population density in the Drakensberg mountains of Kwazulu grasslands is much lower, only Natal, South Africa. This is more around 10 mice/ha compared to 40 than 800km away from Goegap as mice/ha in the succulent karoo at the the jackal buzzard flies, but for my start of the breeding season. This is car it was more than 1300kms. It because the annual survival was exciting to live for some months probability of 2% is ten times smaller in a habitat that is totally different than that of the succulent karoo. from Goegap. It was summer and Also, while the breeding season in raining nearly every day. The the succulent karoo is 3 months vegetation was flourishing, short, it is 7 months long in the everything was green. grasslands. So all of this fitted nicely One should think such a green land into our explanations. must be a heaven for the mice, but it But as scientists we would have liked is not. Mice are not cows, they to test some predictions. Our

20 predictions would have been that depressions over the mountains, I when we get the same situation in realized that this catastrophic the succulent karoo as in grasslands, disaster enabled me to test the the social system of the mice should prediction whether low population change. More precisely: Low survival density leads to a solitary lifestyle. I probability and resulting low expanded my field site from 3 ha to population density in the succulent 40ha, and by this managed to trap karoo would resemble the situation enough mice to study them. in grasslands and lead to a solitary The results were clear. In 2003, all mouse lifestyle. the females in the succulent karoo When I came back to Goegap in became solitary, and so did the 2003, it was not my intention to test males. Like in the grasslands, the these predictions. I had marked males had now much larger more than 200 mice the year before territories than females, and they and studied 9 social groups. I was overlapped the territories of several anxious to see how these groups females. The males were no group had developed. Would the females members anymore, but visited one born in one group in 2002 stay female after the other. Now after the together in 2003 and form communal drought, the home ranges of the nests? What factors would determine mice increased significantly. They which females stay together, which were much larger than in previous leave? Who had survived? Would years in the same area of the the males emigrate into other succulent karoo. In fact, they were groups? What happens to males that the same size as the home ranges of do not find a group? mice living in the grasslands. The drought had minimized survival I soon found out how my study probability, reduced population groups had developed: They were all density and changed the social extinct! Of the more than 200 system from group to solitary living. marked mice, only 4 had survived. The winter of 2003 experienced the And the second factor, the duration severest drought in recorded history of the breeding season? Like in other (since 1960), most mice had died. It years, the breeding season was was totally dry, no mouse food was again only 3 months long in the available, and the few survivors were succulent karoo. If the lack of just skin and bones. Finally, we got reproductive competition due to a rain at the end of winter in August, short breeding season would favour and plenty of it. After the rain, icy group living, one would predict that cold air was coming from the groups form again. And this is Antarctic, it was freezing every night. exactly what we observed. At the As a consequence, every second of end of the breeding season family the few survivors died in the cold. groups established again. As the population density at this stage was My situation was frustrating and much lower than in previous years depressing. Nearly all my study and even lower than in grasslands, animals were gone. What to do? this also indicated that it is not only After I had relaxed and send my the population density alone that

21 dictated the social system: The success? 2. How does a mouse presence or absence of reproductive determine which social strategy to competition is itself an independent follow, when to live in a group and important factor. when alone? 3. In how far is the social behaviour of a mouse

influenced by the social environment Future studies it is growing up in? 4. What The striped mouse shows proximate mechanisms, especially extraordinary flexibility in its social endocrine factors, enable social system both between as well as flexibility? What hormones play a within populations. Thus, it is an role? ideal model to study reasons for Thus, our main research focus is on group living and social flexibility. In the reasons of group living. Hereby the future, our research will focus on we also want to pay special attention following questions: 1. In how far is to the role of males and understand the social flexibility adaptive, i.e. under which (ultimate and proximate) leads to higher reproductive

The striped mouse is an ideal model to study highly interesting aspects of social behaviour: Paternal care, communal nesting, group living and social flexibility. However, simply to study their individual live histories is extremely interesting and it is astonishing to see how individuals have different characteristics and maybe even characters.

22 conditions paternal care is shown. contrast, humans are very flexible. In our species you find monogamy,

polyandry and polygyny. People Why research on the striped might live in small nuclear families or mouse? in extended ones, in small groups, or There are many open questions, but alone. No other primate has this the main question might be: Why do social flexibility, but the striped research on striped mice at all? Why mouse has. E.g. like in humans, spend so much time, energy and some males are good fathers, others money for studying the social leave the mother which has to raise behaviour of such a small rodent in the offspring alone. southern Africa? There are three 3. The striped mouse offers an ideal good reasons why to do so: system to study the influences of the 1. This research and its results are environment on social behaviour and very fascinating. For many people, what physiological factors are the results are interesting and they associated with this. Humankind is are surprised to learn about how exposed to an ever changing complex and complicated the life of environment, mainly being changed such a small mammal can be. by ourselves. Thus, we should be Behavioural biology as such is a kind lucky to have an animal model that of and contribution to our culture, as enables us to study the are the arts. Many people like to go consequences – an animal that lives to the opera, just as many people a few years, not decades, such that are interested in nature. Here it does we can obtain the results in a not matter that not everybody goes relatively short time. to the opera or is interested in However, my main motivation to nature, but it matters that many do. study these animals is simply that it 2. The striped mouse is a very good is fascinating. What we observe in system to understand human Goegap is a soap opera of the most behaviour. One might say that to exciting kind. Every individual has its understand humans one should own life history, experiences good better study their closest relative, and bad times during its life. We are apes and monkeys, and compare often astonished how similar the them with us. However, the mice mice are to us. Of course it would be share one characteristic with us that wrong to humanize the mice, but most primates do not have: Social their life histories are nevertheless flexibility. Most primate species have interesting. From now on we will a relatively fixed social system, such publish in every FSM-TIMES the life as living in family groups (titi history of one individual (see below). monkeys and gibbons), harems You can decide for yourself whether (colobus monkeys and gorillas) or in these mice have interesting lives or multi-male multi-female groups not. (baboons and chimpanzees). In

23 Published and accepted papers Schradin C, 2004. Territorial defense in a group living solitary forager: who, where against whom? Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 55:439-446. Schradin C, 2005. Nest side competition in diurnal rodents from the succulent karoo of South Africa: The striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio) against the bush karoo rat (Otomys unisulcatus). Journal of Mammalogy 86 (August). Schradin C, in press. When to live alone and when to live in groups: ecological determinants of sociality in the African striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio, Sparrman, 1784). Belgian Journal of Zoology (Proceedings of the 9th African Small Mammal Symposium). Schradin C, Pillay N, 2003. Paternal care in the social and diurnal striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio): laboratory and field evidence. Journal of Comparative Psychology 117:317-324. Schradin C, Pillay N, 2004a. Prolactin levels in paternal striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio) fathers. Physiology and Behavior 81:43-50. Schradin C, Pillay N, 2004b. The striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio) from the succulent karoo of South Africa: A territorial group living solitary forager with communal breeding and helpers at the nest. Journal of Comparative Psychology 118:37-47. Schradin C, Pillay N, 2005. Intraspecific variation in the spatial and social organization of the African striped mouse. Journal of Mammalogy 86 (February). Schradin C, Pillay N, in press-a. Demography of the striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio) in the succulent karoo. Mammalian Biology. Schradin C, Pillay N, in press-b. The influence of the father on offspring development in the striped mouse. Behavioral Ecology.

NEWS AND INFORMATION ABOUT PLANTS AND ANIMALS

MOUSE PORTRAIT disappeared. I observed him the last time on the 16th of September 2001. By Carsten Schradin The next day he was again in a trap, but after this I had never seen him again. As he had just changed his Male BlackBlackBlack territory a couple of weeks ago and become the breeding male of group While looking at the data, three 6, I am sure he did not disperse and years later, it seems as if I do not move away. A deadly encounter with know much about the striped mouse a snake or a jackal buzzard is the male BlackBlackBlack. I don’t know most likely reasons for his his parents, I am not sure how many disappearance. children he had, and I do not know Although it seems I do not know when he was born nor why he much about him, BlackBlackBlack is

24 a very special mouse for me, yes my single mice in Goegap, so did this favourite mouse of all the years of mean they were solitary here as field work in Namaqualand. He had a well? I did not know what I would unique personality, always being find, and I did not know if my method friendly and kind not only towards his of data collection would work, as it group mates, but also towards me. was rather unusual for studies on He was quite an active guy, and mice. Apart from traditional trapping traps were his passion. Whenever he and marking I wanted to observe heard a trap being set up, he arrived their natural behaviour in the field, there just like by magic within a few normally not possible when studying minutes. BlackBlackBlack was really mice. In contrast to most other attracted by traps and one must say mouse species, the striped mouse is he had a problem with them, of the diurnal and the habitat was very kind that some humans have with open, but would it be really possible alcohol. We were so used to each to observe them, or would they hide other, that when I found him in a trap in shrubs as long as I am around? I opened it, he walked on my hand, BlackBlackBlack gave me the down my arm and jumped on the answer, and it was “Yes, you can ground. One minute later he was in observe us”, he allowed me to peek the next trap. BlackBlackBlack was over his shoulder and to observe his really a trapaholic! private life! The reason why BlackBlackBlack So what was BlackBlackBlack doing was so special for me is that he was all day? Sometimes he was chased the first striped mouse I really learnt away by a bush karoo rat from her to know. So BlackBlackBlack was for nest. These observations lead to a me what the famous chimpanzee Flo publication on nest site competition was for the even more famous between the two species. He was primatologist Jane Goodall. He even chased away by female mice introduced me into the social life of from neighbouring groups, but his the striped mice in Goegap. His kind interactions with the females of his and curious character made it easy own group were very amicable. Both for me to follow him in the field and observations lead to two more to observe his behaviour. publications. Furthermore, I met BlackBlackBlack in 2001, BlackBlackBlack was very friendly during my first field season in towards the juveniles of his group, Goegap. I came here to study the he greeted them enthusiastically by social system of the striped mice, but sniffing at them when meeting them did not know what to expect. In at the nest during the afternoon, he captivity I had observed enormous groomed them and was sitting in amounts of male parental care in this body contact with them. This species, which is why I expected behaviour of adult males towards them to live in pairs or groups. juveniles was reported in another However, field studies in the publication. grasslands had indicated that they Most importantly, BlackBlackBlack are solitary. And at the beginning of showed me that the striped mice of my field studies I only observed Goegap were living in social groups,

25 and that the adult males were dye, but not by writing numbers on important members of these groups. them. Instead, they got three striped And BlackBlackBlack was simply a of different colours, blond, red, black very nice guy. This might not sound or violet. And BlackBlackBlack had very scientific, but I did not write a three black stripes, he was more or paper about this. However, since I less totally black marked. I wonder if met BlackBlackBlack I am thinking I would remember him as well if his about a possible scientific study on name would have been “Red-Blond- individuality of striped mice. Violet”? With his personality I am Last but not least: How did sure I would have, but maybe his BlackBlackBlack get his strange personality is what made me giving name? Already in the first year I him this catchy name. marked mice individually with hair

BlackBlackBlack was a free living but not a wild mouse. He had a problem with traps that attracted him magically: He was a trapaholic!

Publications that describe observations that were first made with BlackBlackBlack: Schradin C, 2004. Territorial defense in a group living solitary forager: who, where against whom? Behav Ecol Sociobiol 55:439-446.

26 Schradin C, 2005. Nest side competition in diurnal rodents from the succulent karoo of South Africa: The striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio) against the bush karoo rat (Otomys unisulcatus). J Mammal 86 (August). Schradin C, Pillay N, 2003. Paternal care in the social and diurnal striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio): laboratory and field evidence. J Comp Psychol 117:317- 324. Schradin C, Pillay N, 2004. The striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio) from the succulent karoo of South Africa: A territorial group living solitary forager with communal breeding and helpers at the nest. J Comp Psychol 118:37-47.

are missing a mouse with a radio- BIRD PORTRAIT: THE JACKAL BUZZARD collar, this is a good place to search. (BUTEO RUFOFUSCUS) Over the years we found several radio-collars in the owl pellets of By Carsten Schradin these birds: The jackal buzzard is a mouse-eater! However, our study High above the land of the mice a animals are relatively safe. As most large raptor is circling. It is a jackal of the time someone is at the field buzzard, the most common bird of site, the birds prefer to forage prey in Goegap. Their nest is not far somewhere else, as they are afraid away from the field site, on top of a of humans. They also prefer preying small tree that is growing at the in the bigger but slower bush karoo steep slope of a stony hill. When we and whistling rats.

The jackal buzzard is very common in Goegap. He is a mouse eater and one of the main enemies of the mice. The bird in the picture was taken away from poachers and raised and released in Goegap.

SNAKY SUMMER opponent. To spit, she applies strong pressure to her venom glands, It was one weekend in October when forcing the poison through her hollow I was busy trapping mice at the fangs. She doesn’t spit because she research station. One group is living is evil, but only to protect herself. directly in front of my office window. Instead of biting and being in danger They are not part of our study of getting hurt herself, she prefers to groups, but as the field site is not far spit from a save distance. Her poison away I wanted to mark them, in case is only dangerous when it gets into some would emigrate to the field the blood stream or into the eyes, site. but not when it is on the skin. In the We have two nest boxes for the mice eyes, it causes sever pain and can at the research station, such that I even cause blindness. can videotape their behaviour in the Luckily I wear glasses and I was nest. I put several traps in front of happy that the snaked spat instead the occupied nest box. After I of biting me. The poison of the cobra marked the trapped ones, I had a is highly venomous, 40mg being look inside the nest box: 4 very enough to kill a human. And with one young mice ran out of it as I lifted the bite she injects 200-350mg of lid. They were only 10 days old, too poison! The poison destroys the young to run far away. I was sure tissue and attacks the nervous they would be back soon. Thus, system. halve an hour later I was holding a However, I was not too grateful that plastic bag in front of the entrance of she did not bite me. A spitting cobra the nest box and lifted the lid, to in front of my door was not what I chase the little ones out and into the want. Thus, I got a walking stick and bag. started a fight. I wanted to chase her As I lifted the lid, I got the shock of away from the house. The snake my life: A big black cobra was didn’t like this and spitted like hell, spitting a full load of poison into my wetting my arms. Although the face. Seems she found the little ones poison causes no problems on the before me, although later I still trap skin, I nevertheless preferred to at least three of them. A spitting wash it away from time to time. Her cobra can spit her poison for a next shot went directly into my face, distance of 2.5 meters, and she so I can tell you that cobra poison always aims at the face of her tastes really very bitter.

The elegant spitting cobra (here making her hood as a warning sign) can spit its poison from a distance of up to 2.5 meters into the eyes of her enemy.

Finally I manage to chase the cobra the stick, and I quickly throw her over several meters away from the house. the fence. There she was, making She was making her hood and her hood and threatening me. But as looked very angrily at me. Then she I made a few steps back she relaxed comes back into my direction, and quickly disappeared under a attacking me with her erected hood. shrub. This is not because she really wants I hoped she had enough, but two to attack me, but because attack is weeks later she came back. I was her only defence. A fleeing cobra coming back from a nest observation can be easily killed by her enemy, in the morning, when I saw her next but a defensive cobra not! She was to the house. I got my walking stick in fact desperately seeking for and the fight started again, again shelter. Now she was turning into the ending with the cobra flying over the direction of a tree next to the house. fence. I hope she was now so upset Still too close for me, so I chased her that she won’t come back, and that again. She was getting tired and it she appreciates that we handled her seemed she was also running out of better than anyone else in ammunition, as she did not spit so Namaqualand would have: People much anymore. Finally I managed to here always kill every snake they push the stick under her. Like a too see. big earthworm she was hanging from

The spitting cobra is flying over the fence.

Three weeks later I found a note at Neither Brigi nor the cobra was very my door when I came back from a happy with this idea, and so the shopping trip to Springbok: “Danger: snake decided to paint the walls of Spitting cobra in nest box”. One the tank with her poison, spitting like student found her when checking the a little fountain. But finally she was nest box for young mice. So again it happily released at a new home, was the cobra, the stick and I. But under the watchful eye of Brigi and this time it was another individual, two German tourists that were happy only 1m long. The snake was to see this spectacle. desperately seeking shelter as I Apart from the spitting cobra, the puff chased her. Finally she found it in a adder is the most dangerous snake broken mouse trap next to the nest in Goegap. One afternoon we found box. It was surprising that such a big a 1m long individual on our veranda. snake fitted inside. A student brought As the puff adder is moving rather me a little plastic tank and carefully I slowly, I quickly got her into a tank put the trap inside. The next two with a stick. Two days later she was days the cobra was standing on the released away from the research veranda in the research station. station. While the cobra is a very fast Then when Brigi was driving to and agile snake, the puff adder Springbok she got the brave task of seems rather slow. However, she taking the snake with her. I asked can bite very fast. In fact, no other her to release the snake in the snake strikes as fast as the puff reserve, 5km away from the adder, and her poison is highly research station behind a hill. venomous. Every year some people

30 die in South Africa because of a puff dangerous, with all those poisonous adder bite. However, I assure every snakes but this is not the case. In the student that it is much more likely last 40 years (and probably much that a car will run you over them in longer), no incident with snake bites Goegap than that a snake bites ever occurred in Goegap, although them! thousands of people come here A baby puff adder was found a few every year and walk through the days later on the veranda and also reserve. Snakes don’t bite, if they do moved elsewhere. However, apart not have to. The fast cobras avoid from poisonous snakes there are humans and quickly disappear. other snakes at the research station: Adders make a hissing sound when We have one brown rubber snake, they hear the footsteps of a human, and putting it into a cupboard or on a such that one does not step on them. bed is a joke several students If you wear shoes and long trousers, already had to experience. One even a bite would normally not be a morning Carola found that rubber problem, as the fangs would only snake in one of the cages of her penetrate the trousers. I always tell mice. She keeps some captive mice the students to wear long trousers on the veranda under natural when in the field, to be aware where weather conditions. As Carola they are stepping and not to walk wanted to start to complain about barefooted. And most important: Do this bad joke of putting the rubber not try to catch snakes, so they won’t snake into her cage, the snake bite you. The only person who started moving: It was alive. During obviously does not obey this rule is the night, a none-poisonous brown me. But luckily most students house snake had entered the cage naturally prefer not to catch cobras and ate its inhabitant, a male mouse. or other snakes! It is a fact that most With the mouse in its belly, it did not humans don’t know anything about fit through the cage bars anymore. snakes and so are afraid of them. So it was easy to remove it from the Many students came here and were research station. The same day we afraid of snakes, which they have found a sand snake basking on the never seen before in nature. Brigi, shrub in front of the veranda, only my fiancé, was terrified of snakes 5m away from Carola’s mice. Sand before she met me. But after snakes are related to house snakes encountering cobras and puff adders and not poisonous. Still I caught her in the field, some of the most and she was removed. We do not poisonous snakes in the world, the want to get the keeping conditions of fear changes to respect and our mice too natural! admiration for these elegant and One could get the impression that beautiful creatures on Namaqualand! living in Goegap must be very

31 PLANT PORTRAIT: THE PEE-SHRUB, a shrub one better wears cloves, but ZYGYPHYLLUM RETROFRACTUM still has to expect scratches on your arms and hands. Really a save place By Carsten Schradin to build a nest. In early summer, when the shrub has small fruits of the size of a pinhead, also mice “What is the name of this shrub?” I seem to grow in shrubs, as they are irritably asked my two South African busy harvesting. Also the leaves of field assistants. “Pissbosch” was the pee-shrub are only as large as a their reply, and piss in Afrikaans pinhead, and they are toxic. This is means the same as p… in English. why goats and sheep cannot feed on So more politely translated, I was this shrub. However, the mice are looking at a pee-shrub. I do not even small enough to choose from the want to know where the name many leaves the ones that have less comes from, but what a catchy name toxin, at least this is my hypothesis it is. why they can feed on it. During the The pee-shrub can have a dry season the leaves of the pee- circumference of more than 12 shrub are a very important food meters and grows up to 1.2 meters source for the mice, making it high, but normally the circumference possible for them to survive this is 5 meters and the height only period of the year. However, the fact 60cm. It is the dominant plant that mice can be observed to feed on species at our field site and, these leaves year round even when although it looks rather boring, quite other food sources are available important for the mice. The pee- indicates that the pee-shrub does not shrub offers save nesting sites and only serve as an emergency food food. The branches are very hard source. The pee-shrub might look and work like thorns. When unspectacular for us, but for the mice recovering a transmitter out of such it is certainly something special.

The pee-shrub offers save nesting sites and a year round available food source for striped mice.

ZOOLOGIST GOING ASTRAY determined species and number of every plant occurring in and around By Christina Keller the square (Braun-Blanquet- method). Soon I changed my It was not as if I have had no doubt sceptical opinion about botany. I about choosing a diploma thesis with realized that plants have some ecology as focal point. I am a remarkable advantages in zoologist with heart and soul, and so comparison to animals. In contrast to I was not looking forward to dealing our rodents they do not run away, with the complex flora of they do not bite and they do not pee Namaqualand. On the other hand it on you. At least this was the first was especially this complexity I impression I had while I was sitting wanted to investigate. To include as relaxed in my little square between many plant species as possible in all the flowers, determining the my studies, I chose ten very different species’ while consulting a book. areas all over the reserve and However, during the next part of my conducted fife vegetation analyses in project I soon discovered that there each of them. Therefore I marked are also some disadvantages. Here I out a square of 2x2m and compared the vegetation around

33 occupied Bush-Karoo-rat-nests with promising rat area by mountain bike unoccupied ones. I realized that you and squat in the sand near the also have to run after plants, if tourist route. Suddenly I saw a bus seeking for a distinctive bush without full of seniors. All the elderly people knowing where it grows, for example gripped their binoculars and pointed a shrub with a nest. When I finally in my direction with lots of found such a shrub I had to find out if “Ooohhhs!” and “Aaahhhs!”. Only it was occupied. So I searched inside than did I realized how funny I must the shrub for fresh droppings, literally have looked. My big cowboy hat on digging for “sh...!” Often the thorns of my head, a rope in one hand, a clip the shrub scratched my arms board in the other one, on my back a completely. Better than being bitten backpack full of books and on my by a mouse? Not at all! The waist the bulky, iron sticks I used for statement that plants do not pee on marking the areas. So I pored over a you is fading away, if you walk too tiny plant. Now I can imagine how an close to an Euphorbia-shrub, ruining animal in the zoo must feel. At least I your clothes with the sticky, milky was out of their cameras` reach, but juice. Apparently everything has got perhaps a grandma will tell her two sides. grandchild later about the odd For a group of tourists my work was creatures creeping around in at least amusing. I just rode to a Goegap Nature Reserve.

VISITORS

By Carsten Schradin

Beginning of November we had our ready, at a braai one first braai’s traditional yearly braai at the everything, which was three rounds research station with the workers. at our occasion (more than 2 hours), We had invited the staff of Goegap and keeps it warm. Only when to the braai to say thank you for all everything is finished, one starts to the help we had received from them eat. While in Germany everything is during the year. Braai is Afrikaans for organized except for a BBQ, in BBQ. The difference is that, while at South Africa it is exactly the other a BBQ one eats the meat when it is way round!

Johan and Koekoes take care of the braai.

Middle of December Mike Sweden visited. Fred worked at the Scanttlebury from the University of other end of the world, in Alaska, Pretoria visited us once more. Mike where he studied wolverines. At the was quite fascinated from our moment he is based at the meerkat research on the striped mouse and project of Tim Clutton-Brock in the would like to study this species Kalahari, where he is writing up his himself in the future. PhD thesis on the wolverines. With him was Mike Fredrik Dalerum from the University of Stockholm,

35 CONFERENCES, PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

By Carsten Schradin

By the 22nd of December an article published. Here we already present of mine about the small mammal the abstracts. If you have access to fauna of Namaqualand was a scientific library, watch out for published in the popular science these papers to appear. Otherwise magazine RODENTIA (in German). In write an email to the next three months, two scientific [email protected] and I will papers on the striped mouse will be provide you with a copy

Schradin C, Pillay N, 2005. Intraspecific variation in the spatial and social organization of the African striped mouse. Journal of Mammalogy 86 (February).

Social flexibility, i.e. the expression of different types of social systems within one species has been reported in several mammal taxa, including rodents. However, sociality in rodents has been studied mostly in captivity and the results are often regarded as laboratory artifacts. We present field data for 2 populations of the striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio), a diurnal muroid rodent from southern Africa. The 2 populations inhabit different environments and demonstrate differences in social organization. R. pumilio in the arid Succulent Karoo lives in social groups, comprising multiple adults of both sexes that share one nest and the same territory. Striped mice in the moist grasslands of South Africa are solitary. Females inhabit exclusive territories and male territories overlap those of several females; association between the sexes appears to be restricted to mating. Home ranges of females in the grasslands were 6 times larger and males 10 times larger than their counterparts in the Succulent Karoo. Onset of reproductive activity occurred earlier and at a significantly lighter body weight in grasslands. In the Succulent Karoo, sexually mature offspring remain in their natal group without reproducing. We suggest that group living in the Succulent Karoo is in response to habitat saturation and the benefits of philopatry, whereas living alone in the grasslands may be a response to limiting resources, such as food.

Schradin C, Pillay N, 2005. The influence of the father on offspring development in the striped mouse. Behavioral Ecology.

Lay summary: Males of the same species sometimes show differences in social behavior depending on the habitat in which they live. An ideal model for examining the

36 relationship between social behavior and habitat type is the striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio), a small rodent inhabiting many different habits in southern Africa. In the moist grasslands, this species is solitary, and males visit different females for mating, but do not take care of offspring. In contrast, the striped mouse lives in groups in the succulent karoo, a desert habitat. Here males living permanently with females and their offspring and also participate in infant care. We predicted that differences in night temperatures between these two habitats might be one reason why males show paternal care in the succulent karoo but not in grasslands. Because of the colder nights in the succulent karoo, the presence of the father might be beneficial for huddling young, whereas the father’s presence may not be as important in the warmer grasslands. We conducted experiments simultaneously with mice kept in captivity but under natural weather conditions in both habitats and recorded the survival and growth of offspring when the mother raised her offspring alone and when the father was present and participated in raising the offspring. There were no differences in survival of offspring between habitats. As predicted, however, offspring in the succulent karoo grew faster when the father was present, whereas the presence or absence of the father did not influence offspring development in the grasslands. We conclude that one reason males show paternal care in the succulent karoo is to provide warmth for their offspring during cold nights, thereby improving the growth of the offspring; higher night temperatures in the grasslands means that the mother alone is capable of raising her offspring without compromising their growth.

FUNDING OF RESEARCH: CALL FOR DONATIONS

Research costs money and one of the Witwatersrand has a department the main tasks for a scientist is to that receives and manages obtain funding for his projects. To donations (see details below). Here study the socio-ecology of small you can donate money onto the mammals in the succulent karoo we account “Striped Mice”, and the have to raise funds. One aim of the money will become available for FSM-TIMES is to give you the projects in Goegap. When depositing opportunity to support our research money on this account, please state via donations. We would like to “Striped Mice” as intended purpose. appeal to all subscribers to donate a You will then get a letter of small amount of money each year appreciation of your donation, and (80 Rand, 10 Euro or 15 dollars). we can use the money to study small Larger donations are of course mammals. welcome and donors of more than To deposit money into a South 400 Rand (50 Euro, 75 dollars) will African account is complicated and be mentioned in the next FSM- associated with costs for subscribers TIMES. If you want to donate really from outside South Africa. However, large amounts, you can even choose foreigners can still donate into this on what the money should be spent account. Additionally, we also offer a by becoming a sponsor (see below). second option, the option of a trust, To receive donations we should that is especially useful for people have a foundation or a society. That from Europe. Below we state would be the ideal solution. banking details of two accounts, one However, for a foundation we would in Germany and one in Switzerland. need a starting capital of around 50 These are private accounts, but if 000 Euro, which we do not have. To you donate money into them and establish a society, we would need a state “Striped Mice” as purpose, we board of 7 people that meet at least will use this money for our research. once a year. Such a meeting would These accounts are especially useful probably cost more than we will when we have to pay accounts receive in donations. As we want to outside overseas, e.g. for radio- use the donations to support tracking equipment from Canada. scientific research, we are aiming for The FSM-TIMES is for free, but we a solution that uses as little money would welcome and appreciate every for administration as possible. donation. We are grateful for each The solution for our problem is an and every contribution and in the last association to the foundation of the FSM-TIMES of this year we will University of the Witwatersrand and publish how much on donations we trust of you into us. The University of received and how it was spent.

38 SUBSCRIBERS DONATION Account details for donations We appeal to all subscribers of the Please state “L.2112“ as reference on FSM-TIMES to donate 80 Rand (10 all deposits and cheques. Euro, 15 dollars) a year for research on the socio-ecology of small South Africa mammals in Goegap. Donations of Standard Bank more than 80 Rand are welcome and Brnach: Braamfontein donors of 400 Rand (50 Euro, 75 Account name: Wits University dollars) will be mentioned in the next Foundation FSM-TIMES. Account No.: 002900076 Donations will be used for the Branch code: 004805 following purposes: Swift code: SB ZAZ AJJ 00480502 1. Scientific research on small Please state L.2112 as reference. mammals in Goegap, especially smaller research projects such as Diploma and PhD theses, which Germany have difficulties in raising funds Carsten Schradin, KSK Esslingen, elsewhere. BLZ 611 500 20, Konto Nr. 7434686 2. Improving the infrastructure of the research Station. Switzerland 3. Running costs of the research Carsten Schradin, ZKB, Konto Nr. station. 117-0028.726. In the last issue of the FSM-TIMES of every year we will publish how much we received in donations and how the money was used.