Climatic factors affecting trapping success of some South African small mammals

The effect of weather on the capture probability of small mammals in Sherman live traps was investigated. Small mammals were captured over a five-year period. A management fire removed all surface vegetation at the end of the second year. The diurnal trapping success was reduced following the fire. Smaller species had an increased chance of being caught on windy days. Rhabdomys pumilio and Mus minutoides showed a seasonal peak in capture probability which coincided with the onset of reproduction. Praomys verreauxii was less likely to be caught on moonlit nights. The capture success of other species was affected by rain, temperature and relative humidity. Die uitwerking van weer op vangswaarskynlikheid van klein soogdiere in Sherman vanghokke is ondersoek. Klein soogdiere is oor 'n tydperk van vyf jaar gevang. 'n Bestuursveldbrand het alle oppervlakplantegroei teen die einde van die tweede jaar verwyder. Die dag-vangsukses is verminder na die brand. Kleiner spesies het 'n verhoogde kans op vangs getoon op winderige dae. Rhabdomys pumilio en Mus minutoides het 'n seisoenale piek in vangswaarskynlikheid getoon, wat ooreengestem het met die aanvang van voortplanting. Die vangs van Praomys verreauxii was minder waarskynlik op maanlignagte. Die vangsukses van ander spesies is deur reën, temperatuur en relatiewe humiditeit beïnvloed.