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Isotopic evidence for niche partitioning and the influence of anthropogenic disturbance on endemic and introduced rodents in central Madagascar

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Abstract

We applied a multi-isotope approach to examine aspects of niche partitioning, competition, and mobility for rodents in the Central Highlands of Madagascar. Specifically, we used carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N), and strontium (87Sr/86Sr) isotope ratios in bone to investigate diet and mobility for endemic tufted tail rats (Eliurus spp.), and introduced black rats (Rattus rattus) and house mice (Mus musculus) within and outside a fragment of montane humid forest in the Ambohitantely Special Reserve. There was a clear spatial segregation in trapping success for different species: Eliurus was only in the forest interior and edge, Mus only outside of the fragment in a marsh and park housing complex, and Rattus in all habitats except the housing complex. We find only moderate support for mobility of rodents among habitats. Mus may routinely move between the marsh and housing complex. However, regular movement between the forest edge and interior, or between the forest fragment and surrounding grassland is not supported. Taxa appear to target different foods: Rattus tends to feed at a higher trophic level than Eliurus, and Mus consumes some C4 resources. To date, strontium isotopes have been underutilized in ecological research. Here, we show that they are highly complementary to carbon and nitrogen isotope data. Even in localities with relatively uniform underlying geology, it may be possible to distinguish individuals that regularly forage in different habitats.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale (Université d’Antananarivo), Madagascar National Parks, the Ministère de l’Environnement et des Forêts, and Direction du Système des Aires Protégées for assistance with different administrative aspects and for providing permits to conduct this work (no. 77/14/MEF/SG/DGF/DCB.SAP/SCB, 238/14/MEF/SG/DGF/DCB.SAP/SCB, and no. 011/15/MEF/SG/DGF/DCB.SAP/SCB). For assistance in the field, we are grateful to Yann Gomard, Achille Raselimanana, Beza Ramasindrazana, Pablo Tortosa, and David Wilkinson. We also thank Alaina Strand and Sierra Richardson for helping prepare samples, and Tom Johnson and Gideon Bartov for assistance analyzing strontium isotopes.

Funding

The field portion of this study was supported by a grant for the “ParamyxOI project” (European Regional Development Funds FEDER-POCT, La Réunion) and the “StopRats” project (European Union, European Development Fund FED 2013330-223). Analyses were funded by NSF Major Research Instrumentation Award No. EAR-1229114 (to BEC), and the UC McMicken Undergraduate STEM Experiences Program.

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  1. Departments of Geology and Anthropology, University of Cincinnati, 500 Geology Physics Building, 345 Clifton Court, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA

    Brooke Erin Crowley

  2. Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science, Miami University, 118 Shideler Hall, 250 South Patterson Avenue, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA

    Ian Castro

  3. Association Vahatra, BP 3972, 101, Antananarivo, Madagascar

    Voahangy Soarimalala & Steven M. Goodman

  4. Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60605, USA

    Steven M. Goodman

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Correspondence to Brooke Erin Crowley.

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Crowley, B.E., Castro, I., Soarimalala, V. et al. Isotopic evidence for niche partitioning and the influence of anthropogenic disturbance on endemic and introduced rodents in central Madagascar. Sci Nat 105, 44 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-018-1564-y

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