PATTERN AND CONTROLS OF REPRODUCTION OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN RODENT GERBILLURUS-PAEBA IN THE SEMIARID KAROO, SOUTH-AFRICA

The pattern and controls of reproductive activity of the hairy-footed gerbil, Gerbillurus paeba, were investigated in the semi-arid environm ent of the Karoo, South Africa. Animals (N= 62) were collected monthly for 14 months. Although some animals appeared to be capable of breedi ng throughout the year, successful breeding was observed only in summe r months. Reproductive activity was related positively to mean monthly rainfall and negatively to actual rainfall and was associated with va riations in minimum temperatures and photoperiod. An opportunistic rep roductive strategy was proposed with the timing and controls of reprod uction being sex, population and habitat specific. (C) 1997 Academic P ress Limited.