{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,10]],"date-time":"2026-03-10T00:27:36Z","timestamp":1773102456357,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":73,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2003,12,19]],"date-time":"2003-12-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1071792000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J. Exp. Zool."],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2004,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:p>In this study we compare the reproductive ability of <jats:italic>Mastomys natalensis<\/jats:italic>, an agricultural rodent pest and that of the closely related species <jats:italic>M. coucha<\/jats:italic>, which has not been ascribed as a pest. We suggest that the ability of <jats:italic>M. natalensis<\/jats:italic> to plague, as well as dominate, resource\u2010limited habitats, may in part be related to its differential breeding response to variation in diet quality. Thus, we examined the reproductive response of <jats:italic>M. coucha<\/jats:italic> and <jats:italic>M. natalensis<\/jats:italic> mothers to variation in dietary protein intake. Our results demonstrated that typical levels of reproduction extended over a narrower range of dietary protein content for <jats:italic>M. coucha<\/jats:italic> than <jats:italic>M. natalensis<\/jats:italic> females. Only <jats:italic>M. natalensis<\/jats:italic> females bred on 6% protein diets, while on 20% protein diets the reproductive output of <jats:italic>M. coucha<\/jats:italic> was lower than on diets containing 10\u2013 and 15% protein. <jats:italic>M. natalensis<\/jats:italic> responded to low protein diets by reducing litter size and litter mass but not individual pup mass. Thus, providing diet quality improves before parturition, conception under sub\u2010optimal conditions may not compromise individual pup growth. Furthermore, the ability of <jats:italic>M. natalensis<\/jats:italic> to breed under conditions of low diet quality may advance their breeding season compared to species that cannot breed until diet quality improves, allowing <jats:italic>M. natalensis<\/jats:italic> to produce additional litters through the season, while more daughters could reproduce during the season of their birth, both factors that are known to contribute to the plaguing tendency of <jats:italic>M. natalensis<\/jats:italic>. <jats:italic>J. Exp. Zool. 301A:97\u2013108, 2004.<\/jats:italic> \u00a9 2004 Wiley\u2010Liss, Inc.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1002\/jez.a.20006","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2003,12,22]],"date-time":"2003-12-22T08:01:35Z","timestamp":1072080095000},"page":"97-108","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":13,"title":["Diet quality differentially affects breeding effort of <i>Mastomys coucha<\/i> and <i>M. natalensis<\/i>: Implications for rodent pests"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"301A","author":[{"given":"Timothy P.","family":"Jackson","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Rudi J.","family":"Van Aarde","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2003,12,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_1_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4102\/koedoe.v40i1.261"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_3_1","first-page":"26","article-title":"Small mammal community characteristics as indicators of ecological disturbance in the Willem Pretorius Nature Reserve, Free State, South Africa","volume":"30","author":"Avenant NL","year":"2000","journal-title":"S Afr J Wildl Res"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1071\/WR9870183"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1071\/WR9870207"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"304","DOI":"10.2307\/3565518","article-title":"A field experiment to examine the effects of food quality and population density on reproduction of wild house mice","volume":"48","author":"Bomford M","year":"1987","journal-title":"Oikos"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1139\/z90-031"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_8_1","first-page":"235","article-title":"The effect of fire on the small mammal community in Hluhluwe Game Reserve","volume":"53","author":"Bowland AE","year":"1988","journal-title":"Z Saugetierkd"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/1938017"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/1382723"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/02541858.1980.11447682"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1515\/mamm.1984.48.3.363"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2028.1993.tb00513.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2028.1996.tb00624.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/1936505"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/2937075"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_17_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00379900"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_18_1","first-page":"300","article-title":"Diagnostic morphometrics of two medically important southern African rodents, Mastomys natalensis and Mastomys coucha (Rodentia, Muridae)","volume":"89","author":"Dippenaar NJ","year":"1993","journal-title":"S Afr J Sci"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_19_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2028.1999.00166.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_20_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1515\/mamm.1996.60.4.629"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"282","DOI":"10.1093\/jn\/108.2.282","article-title":"Influence of diet on growth in the rat","volume":"108","author":"Edozien JC","year":"1978","journal-title":"J Nutr"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_22_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2028.1996.005-89005.x","article-title":"Changes in community characteristics of small mammals in rehabilitating coastal dune forests in northern Kwazulu\/Natal","volume":"34","author":"Ferreira SM","year":"1996","journal-title":"Afr J Ecol"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_23_1","first-page":"35","volume-title":"Rodent Pest Management","author":"Fiedler LA","year":"1988"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_24_1","first-page":"125","article-title":"Rodent pest problems and management in eastern Africa","volume":"36","author":"Fiedler LA","year":"1988","journal-title":"FAO Plant Protect. B."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_25_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2028.1975.tb00136.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_26_1","first-page":"775","article-title":"Germinating grasses and reproductive seasonality of Mastomys species (Rodentia, Muridae)","volume":"60","author":"Firquet E","year":"1996","journal-title":"Mammalia"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_27_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/1939465"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_28_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/icb\/28.3.863"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_29_1","unstructured":"GordonDH.1984.Evolutionary genetics of thePraomys(Mastomys) natalensis species complex (Rodentia:Muridae). PhD thesis University of the Witwatersrand."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_30_1","first-page":"7","article-title":"Systematics of the genus Mastomys (Thomas, 1915) (Rodentia, Muridae):a review","volume":"127","author":"Granjon L","year":"1997","journal-title":"Belg J Zool"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_31_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.1978.27.627"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_32_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1086\/303229"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_33_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/1942276"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_34_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/3565406"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_35_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-7998.1954.tb07801.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_36_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/35044064"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_37_1","first-page":"52","volume-title":"The mouse in biomedical research","author":"Knapka JJ","year":"1982"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_38_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2028.2000.00259.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_39_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1095\/biolreprod47.4.541"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_40_1","first-page":"3","volume-title":"Ecologically\u2010based rodent management","author":"Krebs CJ","year":"1999"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_41_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/1377927"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_42_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S0952836901000462"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_43_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2028.1990.tb01164.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_44_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/3545308"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_45_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S0266467400007719"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_46_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/2404675"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_47_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/38271"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_48_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s004420050370"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_49_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1890\/0012-9615(1998)068[0571:TEODDA]2.0.CO;2"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_50_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1139\/cjz-79-4-562"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_51_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1086\/303191"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_52_1","first-page":"35","article-title":"Early post\u2010natal development of multi\u2010mammate mice Rattus (Mastomys) natalensis (A. Smith)","volume":"24","author":"Meester J","year":"1960","journal-title":"Ann Transvaal Mus"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_53_1","first-page":"183","article-title":"A note on the ecological role of Praomys \n                  natalensis","volume":"75","author":"Meester JAJ","year":"1979","journal-title":"S Afr J Sci"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_54_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1530\/jrf.0.1050193"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_55_1","first-page":"347","article-title":"Reproductive biology, age structure, and diet of Mastomys \n                  natalensis (Muridae, Rodentia) in a Swaziland grassland","volume":"63","author":"Monadjem A","year":"1998","journal-title":"Z Saugetierkd"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_56_1","first-page":"785","article-title":"The effects of additional food on the demography of rodents in a subtropical grassland in Swaziland","volume":"60","author":"Monadjem A","year":"1996","journal-title":"Mammalia"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_57_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1515\/mamm.1995.59.3.349"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_58_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/jn\/104.5.563"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_59_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/1939429"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_60_1","first-page":"77","article-title":"A preliminary investigation of the bioenergetics of pregnancy and lactation of Praomys natalensis and Saccostomus campestris","volume":"22","author":"Perrin MR","year":"1987","journal-title":"S Afr J Zool"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_61_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/252297a0"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_62_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1890\/0012-9658(1999)080[0638:DDIVAM]2.0.CO;2"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_63_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1741","DOI":"10.1098\/rspb.2001.1638","article-title":"Reproductive changes in fluctuating house mouse populations in South\u2010Eastern Australia","volume":"268","author":"Singleton G","year":"2001","journal-title":"Proc Roy Soc Lond B"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_64_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0305-1978(00)00028-4"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_65_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0300-9629(75)90422-3"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_66_1","volume-title":"Biometry:the principles and practice of statistics in biological research","author":"Sokal RR","year":"1995"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_67_1","first-page":"1957","article-title":"Limits to sustained energy intake IV. Effect of variation in food quality on lactating mice Mus musculus","volume":"204","author":"Speakman JR","year":"2001","journal-title":"J Exp Biol"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_68_1","unstructured":"Statsoft Inc.1996.Statistica for windows. Tulsa Oklahoma."},{"key":"e_1_2_1_69_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2664.2001.00656.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_70_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/02541858.1980.11447693"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_71_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/02541858.1981.11447761"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_72_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-7998.1976.tb04683.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_73_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2656.1998.6760863.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_1_74_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.179.4068.90"}],"container-title":["Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Comparative Experimental Biology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/api.wiley.com\/onlinelibrary\/tdm\/v1\/articles\/10.1002%2Fjez.a.20006","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/jez.a.20006","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,17]],"date-time":"2023-11-17T14:32:07Z","timestamp":1700231527000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1002\/jez.a.20006"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2003,12,19]]},"references-count":73,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2004,1]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1002\/jez.a.20006"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/jez.a.20006","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["1548-8969","1552-499X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1548-8969","type":"print"},{"value":"1552-499X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2003,12,19]]}}}