Ecology and activity of mesic Afrotropic mole-rats

Mgr. Matěj LÖVY

Doctoral thesis

Abstract:

This Ph.D. thesis focuses on the ecology and activity of mesic Afrotropic mole-rats. In particular, ecological characteristics in habitats of two mole-rat species with different social system, the solitary Heliophobius argenteocinereus and social Fukomys whytei, were analysed in an area of sympatry and the results are discussed in relation with available ecological data on other species. Two studies bring to light novel data on the ecology and behaviour of the free-living largest social bathyergid, the giant mole-rat Fukomys mechowii, especially in relation to ecological characteristics in its natural habitat, burrow system architecture, kin structure and spatial and temporal activity patterns. In the final study, new data on the field metabolism of the silvery mole-rat H. argenteocinereus are presented. These new findings are discussed in further detail and expand upon existing explanations for low resting metabolism in subterranean rodents and the differences in field metabolism in relation to seasonality of habitat.

Jazyk práce: English

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 9. 8. 2011

Zverejniť od: 9. 8. 2011

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedúci: doc. Mgr. Radim Šumbera, Ph.D.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH BOHEMIA IN ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE

Faculty of Science

Doctoral programme / odbor:
Zoology / Zoology