habitat_narrative
Terrestrial
Highveld Gerbils are associated with open areas, or plains, in subtropical and wooded grasslands on sandy soils or sandy alluvium and may also be found in peaty soils around marshes or wetlands (Skinner & Chimimba 2005; Dempster 2013). They do not generally occur on heavy consolidated sands or very loose sandy soils and need cover of grass, scrub or open woodland (Skinner & Chimimba 2005; Dempster 2013). In Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve, Free State, the only specimen of G. brantsii was collected in a fallow maize field in sandy soil (Wandrag et al. 2002). In the Free State, they were found to be closely associated with cultivated lands (Lynch 1983), and may be a considerable pest in agricultural areas (Monadjem et al. 2015). For example, they are known to forage on germinating seeds and newly emergent seedlings in cropland (Verdoorn 2010; von Maltitz et al. 2014).They tend to form small colonies with entrances to burrows five to ten paces apart. They sometimes use the tunnels of mole-rats (Cryptomys spp.) (Dempster 2013). Active burrows are recognised by fresh soil outside the burrow as these animals tend to clean the burrows every evening. Despite the small number of individuals in a colony, colony warrens may cover areas as large as 70 ha (de Moor 1969). They are adapted to an omnivorous diet which consists mainly of plant material and a small proportion of insects. They mainly take the green parts, seeds and the roots of plants (Skinner & Chimimba 2005; Dempster 2013).
Ecosystem and cultural services: Highveld Gerbils maintain high plant diversity in savannah habitats (Korn & Korn 1989). This species is recognised as a major reservoir and vector of the bubonic plague, and resultantly plays a significant role in plague epidemiology in southern Africa (NICD 2005).
