All Stories

  1. A non-invasive footprint technique for accurate identification of cryptic small mammal species: a sengi case study

    Article • Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, January 2026, Frontiers

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  2. The Impact of the Lunar Cycle and Season on Small Mammal Communities Near a Large Metropolitan Area

    Article • Ecology and Evolution, May 2025, Wiley

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  3. Daily activity patterns of a near-threatened endemic wetland specialist, the Southern African vlei rat (Otomys auratus)

    Article • Physiology & Behavior, April 2025, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  4. Light sensitivity of the circadian system in the social highveld mole-rat, Cryptomys hottentotus pretoriae

    Article • Journal of Experimental Biology, August 2024, The Company of Biologists

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  5. Featured Front Cover

    Article • Land Degradation and Development, May 2023, Wiley

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  6. Dim light at night affects the locomotor activity of nocturnal African pygmy mice ( Mus minutoides ) in an intensity-dependent manner

    Article • Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, April 2023, Royal Society Publishing

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  7. PCP4 immunoreactivity suggests the presence of hippocampal region CA2 in solitary, social and eusocial mole-rat species

    Article • February 2023, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  8. Social Isolation Does Not Alter Exploratory Behaviour, Spatial Learning and Memory in Captive Damaraland Mole-Rats (Fukomys damarensis)

    Article • Animals, February 2023, MDPI AG

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  9. Vegetation restoration measures: increasing plant height suppresses population densities of plateau pikas

    Article • Land Degradation and Development, December 2022, Wiley

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  10. Grazing during the grassland greenup period promotes plant species richness in alpine grassland in winter pastures

    Article • Frontiers in Plant Science, August 2022, Frontiers

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  11. Energetics and Water Flux in the Subterranean Rodent Family Bathyergidae

    Article • Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, June 2022, Frontiers

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  12. Clocks Ticking in the Dark: A Review of Biological Rhythms in Subterranean African Mole-Rats

    Article • Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, April 2022, Frontiers

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  13. Physiological rhythms are influenced by photophase wavelength in a nocturnal and a diurnal rodent species from South Africa

    Article • Physiology & Behavior, October 2021, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  14. Ambient Temperature as a Strong Zeitgeber of Circadian Rhythms in Response to Temperature Sensitivity and Poor Heat Dissipation Abilities in Subterranean African Mole-Rats

    Article • Journal of Biological Rhythms, August 2021, SAGE Publications

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  15. Flexibility in body temperature rhythms of free-living natal mole-rats (Cryptomys hottentotus natalensis)

    Article • Journal of Thermal Biology, July 2021, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  16. Oxidative stress in response to heat stress in wild caught Namaqua rock mice, Micaelamys namaquensis

    Article • Journal of Thermal Biology, May 2021, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  17. Laterality in the Cape mole-rat, Georychus capensis

    Article • Behavioural Processes, April 2021, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  18. Bone remodeling in the longest living rodent, the naked mole‐rat: Interelement variation and the effects of reproduction

    Article • Journal of Anatomy, February 2021, Wiley

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  19. Long bone histomorphogenesis of the naked mole‐rat: Histodiversity and intraspecific variation

    Article • Journal of Anatomy, December 2020, Wiley

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  20. Heat and dehydration induced oxidative damage and antioxidant defenses following incubator heat stress and a simulated heat wave in wild caught four-striped field mice Rhabdomys dilectus

    Article • PLOS One, November 2020, PLOS

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  21. Effect of colony disruption and social isolation on naked mole-rat endocrine correlates

    Article • General and Comparative Endocrinology, September 2020, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  22. The effect of varying laboratory conditions on the locomotor activity of the nocturnal Namaqua rock mouse (Micaelamys namaquensis) and the diurnal Four-striped grass mouse (Rhabdomys dilectus)

    Article • Zoology, August 2020, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  23. Risk assessment in the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae): intensity of behavioral response differs with predator species

    Article • BMC Ecology, July 2020, Springer Science + Business Media

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  24. Temporal flexibility in activity rhythms of a diurnal rodent, the ice rat (Otomys sloggetti)

    Article • Chronobiology International, June 2020, Taylor & Francis

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  25. A comparison of density estimation methods in plateau pika populations in an alpine meadow ecosystem

    Article • Journal of Mammalogy, May 2020, Oxford University Press (OUP)

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  26. Exploratory behaviour, memory and neurogenesis in the social Damaraland mole-rat (Fukomys damarensis).

    Article • Journal of Experimental Biology, January 2020, The Company of Biologists

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  27. Locomotor activity in field captured crepuscular four-striped field mice, Rhabdomys dilectus and nocturnal Namaqua rock mice, Micaelamys namaquensis during a simulated heat wave

    Article • Journal of Thermal Biology, January 2020, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  28. Effects of the colour of photophase light on locomotor activity in a nocturnal and a diurnal South African rodent

    Article • Biology Letters, October 2019, Royal Society Publishing

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  29. Locomotor activity and body temperature rhythms in the Mahali mole-rat (C. h. mahali): The effect of light and ambient temperature variations

    Article • Journal of Thermal Biology, January 2019, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  30. Analysis of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone-1 and kisspeptin neuronal systems in the nonphotoregulated seasonally breeding eastern rock elephant-shrew (Elephantulus myurus )

    Article • The Journal of Comparative Neurology, September 2018, Wiley

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  31. Specialized mechanoreceptor systems in rodent glabrous skin

    Article • The Journal of Physiology, September 2018, Wiley

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen, Gary Lewin

  32. The topography of rods, cones and intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells in the retinas of a nocturnal (Micaelamys namaquensis) and a diurnal (Rhabdomys pumilio) rodent

    Article • PLOS One, August 2018, PLOS

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  33. Specialized mechanoreceptor systems in rodent glabrous skin

    Article • June 2018, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

    Gary Lewin, Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  34. From Mice to Mole-Rats: Species-Specific Modulation of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis

    Article • Frontiers in Neuroscience, October 2017, Frontiers

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  35. Effects of photophase illuminance on locomotor activity, urine production and urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin in nocturnal and diurnal South African rodents

    Article • Journal of Experimental Biology, February 2017, The Company of Biologists

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  36. Locomotor Activity and Body Temperature Patterns over a Temperature Gradient in the Highveld Mole-Rat (Cryptomys hottentotus pretoriae)

    Article • PLOS One, January 2017, PLOS

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  37. Circadian rhythms of locomotor activity in captive Emin’s mole-rats,Heliophobius emini(Rodentia: Bathyergidae)

    Article • Journal of Mammalogy, October 2016, Oxford University Press (OUP)

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  38. Trading new neurons for status: Adult hippocampal neurogenesis in eusocial Damaraland mole-rats

    Article • Neuroscience, June 2016, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  39. Hidden Identities: Cryptic Species in the Otomys Genus (Cuvier 1824) (Rodentia: Muridae: Otomyinae) Revealed by Mitochondrial and Nuclear DNA in South Africa

    Article • Journal of Phylogenetics & Evolutionary Biology, January 2016, OMICS Publishing Group

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  40. Sociality and the telencephalic distribution of corticotrophin-releasing factor, urocortin 3, and binding sites for CRF type 1 and type 2 receptors: A comparative study of eusocial naked mole-rats and solitary Cape mole-rats

    Article • The Journal of Comparative Neurology, May 2015, Wiley

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  41. The effect of ambient temperature on locomotor activity patterns in reproductive and non-reproductive female Damaraland mole-rats

    Article • Journal of Zoology, May 2015, Wiley

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  42. Locomotor activity in the Namaqua rock mouse (Micaelamys namaquensis): entrainment by light manipulations

    Article • Canadian Journal of Zoology, December 2014, Canadian Science Publishing

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  43. Adult neurogenesis and its anatomical context in the hippocampus of three mole-rat species

    Article • Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, May 2014, Frontiers

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  44. Now you see me, now you don’t: The locomotory activity rhythm of the Asian garden dormouse (Eliomys melanurus) from Saudi Arabia

    Article • Mammalian Biology, April 2014, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  45. Down in the Wadi: The locomotory activity rhythm of the Arabian spiny mouse, Acomys dimidiatus from the Arabian Peninsula

    Article • Journal of Arid Environments, March 2014, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  46. Locomotor activity patterns of captive East African root rats,Tachyoryctes splendens(Rodentia: Spalacidae), from Tanzania, East Africa

    Article • Journal of Mammalogy, December 2013, Oxford University Press (OUP)

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  47. Effects of Laboratory Housing on Exploratory Behaviour, Novelty Discrimination and Spatial Reference Memory in a Subterranean, Solitary Rodent, the Cape Mole-Rat (Georychus capensis)

    Article • PLOS One, September 2013, PLOS

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  48. A tale of two jirds: The locomotory activity patterns of the King jird (Meriones rex) and Lybian jird (Meriones lybicus) from Saudi Arabia

    Article • Journal of Arid Environments, January 2013, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  49. Lights Out, Let's Move About: Locomotory Activity Patterns of Wagner's Gerbil from the Desert of Saudi Arabia

    Article • African Zoology, October 2012, African Zoology

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  50. The locomotory activity rhythm of the spiny mouse,Acomys spinosissimusfrom southern Africa: light entrainment and endogenous circadian rhythms

    Article • Journal of Zoology, August 2012, Wiley

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  51. Orexinergic neuron numbers in three species of African mole rats with rhythmic and arrhythmic chronotypes

    Article • Neuroscience, December 2011, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  52. Circadian rhythms of locomotor activity in captive eastern rock sengi

    Article • Journal of Zoology, November 2011, Wiley

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  53. Body Temperature Patterns and Rhythmicity in Free-Ranging Subterranean Damaraland Mole-Rats, Fukomys damarensis

    Article • PLOS One, October 2011, PLOS

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  54. Circadian rhythms of locomotor activity in the reddish-grey musk shrew (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae) from South Africa

    Article • Journal of Zoology, March 2011, Wiley

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  55. Sleep and Wake in Rhythmic versus Arrhythmic Chronotypes of a Microphthalmic Species of African Mole Rat (Fukomys mechowii)

    Article • Brain Behavior and Evolution, January 2011, Karger Publishers

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  56. PHOTIC INDUCTION OF Fos IN THE SUPRACHIASMATIC NUCLEUS OF AFRICAN MOLE-RATS: RESPONSES TO INCREASING IRRADIANCE

    Article • Chronobiology International, September 2010, Taylor & Francis

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  57. Telencephalic binding sites for oxytocin and social organization: A comparative study of eusocial naked mole-rats and solitary cape mole-rats

    Article • The Journal of Comparative Neurology, May 2010, Wiley

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  58. Effects of season and social status on gonadal function in social Natal mole-rats

    Article • Journal of Mammalogy, April 2010, Oxford University Press (OUP)

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  59. Physiological suppression eases in Damaraland mole-rat societies when ecological constraints on dispersal are relaxed

    Article • Hormones and Behavior, February 2010, Elsevier

    Dr Heike Lutermann, Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  60. Seasonal Variation in Gonadal Steroids of Males and Females in the Cape Mole-Rat ( Georychus capensis ): The Potential for Opportunistic Breeding

    Article • African Zoology, April 2009, African Zoology

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  61. Circadian rhythms of locomotor activity in Ansell's mole-rat: are mole-rat's clocks ticking?

    Article • Journal of Zoology, December 2008, Wiley

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  62. Reproductive suppression and the seasonality of reproduction in the social Natal mole-rat (Cryptomys hottentotus natalensis)

    Article • General and Comparative Endocrinology, November 2008, Elsevier

    Dr Heike Lutermann, Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  63. An immunohistochemical study of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone 1 system in solitary Cape mole-rats, Georychus capensis, and social Natal mole-rats, Cryptomys hottentotus natalensis

    Article • Neuroscience, November 2008, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  64. Neuroanatomical investigation of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone 1 system in the seasonally breeding Cape dune mole-rat, Bathyergus suillus

    Article • Brain Research Bulletin, October 2008, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  65. LH responses to single doses of exogenous GnRH in the Cape mole rat (Georychus capensis): the pituitary potential for opportunistic breeding

    Article • Journal of Zoology, February 2007, Wiley

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  66. Circadian rhythms of locomotor activity in the Lesotho mole-rat, Cryptomys hottentotus subspecies from Sani Pass, South Africa

    Article • Physiology & Behavior, September 2006, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  67. Energetics reveals physiologically distinct castes in a eusocial mammal

    Article • April 2006, Nature

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  68. Seasonal energetics of the Hottentot golden mole at 1500 m altitude

    Article • Physiology & Behavior, April 2005, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  69. Circadian rhythms of locomotor activity in the subterranean Mashona mole rat, Cryptomys darlingi

    Article • Physiology & Behavior, February 2005, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  70. Fos expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus in response to light stimulation in a solitary and social species of African mole-rat (family Bathyergidae)

    Article • Neuroscience, January 2005, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  71. The chronobiology of the Natal mole-rat, Cryptomys hottentotus natalensis

    Article • Physiology & Behavior, September 2004, Elsevier

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen

  72. Circadian Rhythms of Locomotor Activity in Solitary and Social Species of African Mole-Rats (Family: Bathyergidae)

    Article • Journal of Biological Rhythms, December 2003, SAGE Publications

    Dr Maria K Oosthuizen