A Comprehensive Study on the Population Dynamics of Stray Dogs, Wild Foxes, and Rodents in the western desert of Egypt. | ||
| African Journal of Biological Sciences | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 18 June 2024 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ajbs.2024.293673.1084 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Eman Mohallal* 1; Hany A. A. Ahmed2 | ||
| 1Desert research center | ||
| 2Department of Agricultural Harmful Animals, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Stray dogs, foxes and rodents contribute to serious health problems in human societies around the world. Before any necessary interventions to control them, an accurate estimate of their populations should be attained. This study investigates the population dynamics of dogs, foxes, and rodents in the western desert regions of Kalabsha, Umbaraka, Razzak, and Abu Gharadig from June 2022 to February 2024. Monthly observations reveal that 1447 dogs were sighted, with a trap index peaking at 22.71% in July 2022 and declining to 2.00% in August 2023. Fox sightings were less frequent, with notable peaks in Autumn 2022 and Spring 2023. Rodent captures exhibited a substantial peak in July 2022 (59.14), followed by a decline to a low in May 2023 (5.00). Seasonal and regional variations in sightings suggest influences from environmental factors and human activities. Abu Gharadig and Razzak consistently reported higher dog and rodent sightings, while Kalabsha and Umbaraka documented more fox sightings. Statistical analyses show significant differences in abundance across areas for dogs (p<0.048), foxes (p<0.005), and rodents (p<0.001). Diversity indices indicate moderate species richness and evenness, with Simpson's Diversity Index at 0.576 and Shannon's Diversity Index at 0.699. These findings highlight the complex interactions between species and their environments, emphasizing the need for tailored conservation and management strategies. The results highlight the need for a science-based policy to control and manage them populations in Egypt. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| stray dogs; wild foxes; rodents; Population abundance; western desert | ||
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