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Low mouse numbers for central Mallee
17 Nov 2003
CSIRO says there will be fewer than 100 mice per hectare this summer in the Mallee region of Victoria. Early in October CSIRO trapped mice in the Victorian central Mallee wheatlands and then ran computer simulation models on the results of the trapping.
CSIRO's Dr Peter Brown said that researchers first collect lots of data, then use different models to make predictions. The first model applied to the data is based on rainfall from April to October and the abundance of mice at the beginning of the breeding season, he said. This model has accurately predicted mouse numbers for the last four years. The results pointed to a start of the breeding season around the second week of August, which is early for this region. Low numbers of fewer than 100 mice per hectare can be expected until April 2004.
CSIRO Media Release, 14/11/03.
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