252 TELFORD: MULTIMAMMATE RAT POPULATION BIOLOGY IN TANZANIA


Project Leader, studies commenced in June 1981 and were concluded in
February 1985. The results and conclusions derived from them are presented
here.



 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


 This study was supported by the people of Denmark, under their generous assistance to
the Republic of Tanzania through the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).
The splendid cooperation and support by DANIDA's Counselor for Development, Axel
Pedersen, enabled me, as Project Leader of the Denmark-Tanzania Rodent Control Project, to
carry out the research program with a minimum of the administrative and logistical frustrations
normally attendant upon bilateral aid projects in developing countries. Without his continuous
help the work would have been, at best, mediocre. Jens Tang Christensen, Project Ecologist, and
William R. Smythe, Rodent Control Specialist, were congenial colleagues and often assisted in
the routine sampling and laboratory procedures. The Government of Tanzania, through the
Ministry of Agriculture, provided field and laboratory staff for the project. In particular, I wish
to acknowledge the assistance of P. Mwanjabe, E. A. Nkya, M. Stambuli, C. Sabuni, and E.
Nzobakenga among the senior staff, and field assistants John, Yusuf, Peter, Clement, and Kasim.
Kim Howell, Department of Zoology, University of Dar-es-Salaam, provided information on the
distribution of small mammals in Tanzania, localities and habitats, and useful contacts within the
country.
 Professional assistance was furnished by the Division of Mammals, British Museum of
Natural History, London (Jean Engels); Mogens Lund, Statens Skadedyrlaboratorium, Lyngby,
Denmark; the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Rickettsial Reference and
Research, Department of Microbiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
(C. L. Wisseman, Jr., and R. Traub); and the Special Pathogens Reference Laboratory, Porton
Down, England. J. H. Greaves generously helped me with literature searches during visits to the
Pest Infestation Control Laboratory of the British Ministry of Agriculture,Fisheries and Food,
Tolworth, Surbiton, Surrey, in 1981 and 1985. Special thanks are due to Norman G. Gratz, then
Director, Division of Vector Biology and Control, World Health Organization, Geneva, for his
considerable (and characteristic) assistance in obtaining literature references, in facilitating
shipments of biomedical materials, in arranging technical briefings, and other helpful activities.
Upon my return from Tanzania to the University of Florida, Jerry F. Butler provided facilities
and equipment for preparation of the study.
 My family contributed also to the success of the research program: Robert M. Telford and
Randolph S. Telford took part in the routine sampling during their several visits to Tanzania,
while Sam R. Telford, III, assisted both in the field and laboratory studies. Finally, Michiko M.
Telford continued to provide her typically efficient yet tranquil domestic environment for her
husband, despite often extreme difficulties in obtaining those material necessities that maintain
an acceptable standard of living.



 MATERIALS AND METHODS


 Sampling schedule.-- The Praomys natalensis population on the campus of Sokoine
University of Agriculture at Morogoro (0651'S, 3738'E) was studied by monthly removal
sampling from 1 October 1981 through 25 February 1985, a period of 40 months, taken
consecutively except for November 1982 when no sample was taken. The desired sample size was
100 individuals per month, and this minimum was taken in 32 of the 40 months. It proved
impossible to obtain sufficient rodents in May and June of 1982 and 1983, months when