Diversity and Richness of Rodent Communities in Various Landscapes of Touggourt Area (Southeast Algeria)

Abstract

Our study presents the species diversity of rodent communities from palm groves and sand dunes in a desert area (Touggourt, Southeast Algeria). Samples were collected from four stations: two sites of sand dunes and tow sites of palm groves. The method of random trapping was performed using 24 cages of Besançon Technique Service (BTS) installed at each station. All captured species were of the family Muridae and belonged to two subfamilies: Murinae and Gerbillinae. The most common species at all stations was Gerbillus nanus (31 specimens), followed by Rattus rattus (23 specimens) and Gerbillus tarabuli (18 specimens). The murine species Rattus rattus and Mus spretus were found at agriculture sites (palm groves) while the Gerbillinae Gerbillus nanus, Gerbillus gerbillus and Gerbillus tarabuli preferred natural environments (sand dunes) where the soil was light and sandy.