Abundance and community composition of small mammals in different habitats in Hugumburda forest, northern Ethiopia

Abstract

Tropical forest ecosystems harbor several species of small mammals. Diversity and abundance of small mammals in these forests reflect the quality and diversity of the ecosystems. The current study was carried out to assess abundance and species composition of small mammals (rodents and shrews) in three habitat types (Pterolobium, Juniperus and Cadia habitats) in Hugumburda forest, a dry afromontane forest in the Tigray region of North Ethiopia. The habitat types were selected based on the floristic compositions (plant species diversity) and level of human disturbance. All together, 179 individual small mammals belonging to seven rodent and one insectivore species were captured in 4,320 trap nights. The rodent species, with their relative abundance, were Stenocephalemys albipes, 55 (30.7%); Mastomys awashensis, 53 (29.6%); Arvicanthis dembeensis, 26 (14.5%); Lophuromys flavopunctatus, 22 (12.3%); Mus (Nannomys) setulosus, 14 (7.8%); Arvicanthis abysinicus 4 (2.2%); Dendromus mystacalis, 3 (1.7%) and the insectivore Crocidura olivieri, 2 (1.1%). There was significant variation in the small mammal abundance among the habitat types (χ 2 =29.45, P= 0.009), with more individuals caught in Pterolobium habitat, which has relatively highest plant species composition and lowest human disturbance than the other two habitats. The highest small mammal species diversity was also recorded in this habitat (H'=1.76). Vegetation diversity and level of human interference are likely the major factors affecting small mammal abundance and composition in Hugumburda forest.

New altitudinal records and distribution of two endemic rodents of Ethiopia

“…During the present study, we recorded the presence of two Ethiopian endemic rodents—Awash Multimammate Mouse Mastomys awashensis (Lavrenchenko et al, 1998) and Ethiopian White‐footed Mouse Stenocephalemys albipes (Rüppell, 1842; Figure 1) in KSNP. The morphometric and cranio‐dental measurements (Table 1) are well within the range of the species (Mengistu et al, 2015; Meseret & Solomon, 2014) and the skull morphology (Figure 2) also confirms for better identification. We captured a total of 17 individuals comprise different age groups of Mastomys awashensis and 55 individuals of Stenocephalemys albipes from all habitat types except the grass land.…”

“…In Ethiopia, a total of 84 species of rodents were recorded, of which 21% are endemic (Alembrhan & Srinivasulu, 2019; Bryja et al, 2019; Lavrenchenko et al, 2007; Yalden & Largen, 1992). Most endemic rodents of Ethiopia were recorded from the high altitudinal ranges (Afework, 1996; Bryja et al, 2019; Lavrenchenko et al, 2007; Yalden & Largen, 1992), leading to confinement of extensive surveys of rodents to the highlands (Demeke & Afework, 2014; Gezahegn et al, 2016; Mengistu et al, 2015; Mohammed et al, 2010). Investigations of rodent diversity in lowland areas of Ethiopia were not conducted; thus, the rodent communities in such areas, including Kafta‐Sheraro National Park (KSNP), are poorly known.…”

Species composition and community structure of terrestrial small mammals in Tanoé-Ehy Swamp Forest (South-East Ivory Coast): implication for conservation

“…Such novel studies should focus on species that are sensitive to disturbances or that could help better evaluate the level of habitat integrity. In this context, terrestrial small mammals, which ecological importance has already been demonstrated (Adam et al, 2015;Bantihun & Bekele, 2015), are eligible.…”

Terrestrial small mammal diversity and abundance in Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire

“…It is therefore difficult to appreciate the terrestrial small mammal communities in the TNP in terms of diversity and abundance. However, it is recognised that terrestrial small mammals form an important component of tropical natural environments (Adam et al, 2015;Bantihun & Bekele, 2015). Terrestrial small mammals play an important ecological role.…”