关键词: 板齿鼠, 食量, 喜食指数

Abstract:

Objective　The daily intake in and preferences for field crop seeds and fruits in Bandicota indica were measured and determined, and the relationship between their food intake and the gender, age, weight and seasonal changes was analyzed in order to provide the basis for determination of the hazard of B. indica and development of sustainable control technology. Methods　The animals were artificially fed in the laboratory and subject to both unselective and selective experiments indoors. Results　Different crops had the respective intake masses as follows: dry rice (37.48±5.98) g, fresh rice (95.57±7.85) g, sweet potatoes (229.84±26.86) g, sweet corn (259.12±27.68) g, peanuts (101.92±20.40) g, soybeans (40.42±6.56) g, vegetables (377.96±52.33) g, and sugarcane (262.29±34.77) g. The intake masses of all crops in male rats were greater than those in female ones except for soybeans, while the intake masses of all crops in infant rats where higher than those in adults and subadults except for sugarcane. A significant to extremely significant linear correlation between the food intake and body weight was also shown. As for the seasonality, the food intake peaked in winter, moderated in autumn and reduced to the smallest in summer. The results of selective experiments showed that the preferences of B. indica for different crops were in descending order as follows: fresh rice, sweet corn, sweet potato, dried rice, peanuts, soy, sugarcane and vegetables. Conclusion　The food intake of B. indica was highly related to the dry matter content and nutritional value, animal metabolism, growth rate and external environmental conditions. The preference index can be used to accurately reflect the different degrees of food preferences in rodents.

Key words: Bandicota indica, Food intake, Preference index