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

摘要：

目的　测定板齿鼠对田间作物种子或果实的日食量和喜好程度，并分析其性别、年龄、体重以及季节变化与食量的关系，为衡量板齿鼠的危害程度和提出持续控害技术提供理论依据。方法　采用实验室人工饲喂的方法，包括室内无选择试验和有选择试验。结果　不同作物的食量指数分别为干稻谷（37.48±5.98）g、新鲜稻谷（95.57±7.85）g、番薯（229.84±26.86）g、甜玉米（259.12±27.68）g、花生（101.92±20.40）g、黄豆（40.42±6.56）g、蔬菜（377.96±52.33）g、甘蔗（262.29±34.77）g；除黄豆外，雄鼠的食量指数高于雌鼠；除甘蔗外，幼鼠的食量指数均高于亚成体鼠和成体鼠，且食量与体重具有显著至极显著的线性相关关系；食量呈现冬季最大、秋季居中、夏季最小的季节差异。有选择试验的结果表明：板齿鼠对不同作物的喜好性表现为新鲜稻谷＞甜玉米＞番薯＞干稻谷＞花生＞黄豆＞甘蔗＞蔬菜。结论　板齿鼠食量的大小与食物的干物质含量和营养价值、动物的新陈代谢、生长速度、外界环境条件都有很大的关系，喜食指数能准确反映鼠类对不同食物的喜好程度。

关键词: 板齿鼠, 食量, 喜食指数