Spatial segregation between invasive and native commensal rodents in an urban environment: a case study in Niamey, Niger

PLoS One. 2014 Nov 7;9(11):e110666. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110666. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Invasive rodents have been responsible for the diffusion worldwide of many zoonotic agents, thus representing major threats for public health. Cities are important hubs for people and goods exchange and are thus expected to play a pivotal role in invasive commensal rodent dissemination. Yet, data about urban rodents' ecology, especially invasive vs. native species interactions, are dramatically scarce. Here, we provide results of an extensive survey of urban rodents conducted in Niamey, Niger, depicting the early stages of rodent bioinvasions within a city. We explore the species-specific spatial distributions throughout the city using contrasted approaches, namely field sampling, co-occurrence analysis, occupancy modelling and indicator geostatistics. We show that (i) two species (i.e. rural-like vs. truly commensal) assemblages can be identified, and that (ii) within commensal rodents, invasive (Rattus rattus and Mus musculus) and native (Mastomys natalensis) species are spatially segregated. Moreover, several pieces of arguments tend to suggest that these exclusive distributions reflect an ongoing native-to-invasive species turn over. The underlying processes as well as the possible consequences for humans are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biodiversity
  • Cities / statistics & numerical data*
  • Introduced Species / statistics & numerical data*
  • Niger
  • Public Health
  • Rodent Control
  • Rodentia*
  • Spatial Analysis*

Grants and funding

Lab and field work were funded by the "Institut de Recherche pour le Développement" (France). Funding support was partly provided to Mr. Garba by a ‘BEST’ bursary from the “Service de Renforcement des Capacités” (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), France. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.