Abundance and distribution of small mammals relative to human activities in the wildlife management areas of Ruvuma landscape, southern Tanzania (original) (raw)
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International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation
Habitat type and their vegetation composition play important role in determining the abundance and diversity of animals including small mammals, hence any change in habitat type will influence their abundance and spatial distribution. This study aimed at investigating the influence of habitat types (that is, Wetland grassland, Miombo and Vachellia woodlands) on small mammal abundance, diversity, and richness in the Usangu area, in southern part of Ruaha National Park, in Tanzania. Sherman and pitfall plastic bucket traps were employed both for trapping small mammals. A total of 92 small mammals were captured in 2124 trap nights giving 13% trap success representing two families, namely, Muridae (6 species) and Soricidae (1 species). Furthermore, trap success differed among habitat types with the highest being in wetland grassland. Species diversity was higher in Vachellia woodlands compared to other habitat types. It would therefore seem that wetland grassland and Vachellia woodland habitats are very crucial in maintaining small mammal abundance and diversity in Usangu Area. Therefore, future management plan should incorporate these refuge habitats for continued existence of small mammals in Usangu. Further study is warranted in wet season in order to have comparison information that will assist in management of small mammal in Usangu.
This study compared the ecology of small mammals in natural and agricultural habitats of Mbeya Range Forest Reserve and Idunda in Mbeya City. Small mammal sampling through the use of Sherman-style and funnel traps and measurements of micro-habitat characteristics associated with small mammals were done for 42 days. Each study site had 4 sub-sites. Seven rodent species and one shrew were captured and Mastomys natalensis was the most abundant while Rattus rattus was the least abundant species. Species diversity varied among the study areas' sub-plots. With exception of Lophuromys spp. positive correlation with bare ground, all other small mammals' individual abundances correlated negatively with the measured micro-habitat characteristics. There was no significant difference between Sherman-style and funnel trap efficiency in catching small mammals. Results further suggested that both agricultural and natural areas are favorable habitat for small mammals. The study recommends a research to compare the ecology of small mammals in the two habitats in different seasons of the year; other important factors for small mammals distribution and abundance such as water, predators, food availability, soil characteristics, and interactions with human being.
Diversity and abundance of small mammals in the Serengeti kopjes, Tanzania
Tanzania Journal of Science, 2009
small mammals in 18 species, 14 genera, 6 families and 3 orders were recorded. Muridae was the most dominant family with nine species. The highest number of species was recorded in the Maasai (14), Mbuzi Mawe (13) and Seronera (12) kopjes. The least number of species recorded in the Simba, Barafu and Wogakuria kopjes, with eight species each. Species diversity was highest in the Maasai kopjes (H'=2.337) and lowest in the Wogakuria kopjes (H'=1.794), with fourteen and eight species, respectively. No significant difference in species diversity was detected between woodland and grassland kopjes, or between seasons. Distribution of species did not vary significantly between the kopjes, with most species being widespread. These include Tatera boehmi, Arvicanthis lacernatus, Graphiurus murinus and Crocidura sp. Catch rate varied from 0.519 in the Seronera kopjes to 0.103 in the Barafu kopjes. However, the difference in catch rate between the kopjes was not significant. Catch rate was significantly higher during the dry season, particularly in the grassland kopjes. The most abundant species included Mastomys anatalensis, Acomys wilsoni, G. murinus and Crocidura sp.
2019
Land use is an important factor influencing animal abundance, species richness and diversity in both protected and human-dominated landscapes. Increase in human population and activities intensify changes in habitat structure and hence abundance, species richness and diversity. We investigated the influences of land use and seasonality on small mammal abundance, species richness and diversity in 10 habitat types distributed over protected, agricultural and pastoral landscapes in the Serengeti ecosystem in Tanzania. We used live traps (n = 141) and capture-recapture methods in each of 10 fixed plots distributed across three landscapes for a total of 28,200 trap nights of effort. Trapping was carried out in the wet and dry seasons for two consecutive years (April 2017 to October 2018). Small mammal abundance was higher in the pastoral than in the protected and in the agricultural landscape. Abundance was higher in the dry than the wet season across all the three landscapes. Species ri...
2005
The Lulanda forest cover a portion of the Udzungwa mountains in Mufindi district, Tanzania, ranging from 1480 -1640 meters above sea level. The forest consists of three forest patches dominated by Parinari excelsa and a corridor between two of them that is being regenerated to a forest under the help of the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG). A capture-mark-recapture study was carried out to document the small mammal species found in Lulanda forest patches and corridor. There is a considerable difference in small mammal species composition between the montane forest and the corridor with a higher diversity in the corridor.
Surveys of Small Mammals in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania
Journal of East African Natural History, 2007
Small mammals were sampled in Tarangire National Park between 1994 and 1996. Twenty-six species of small mammals, including four species of Soricomorpha, seven species of Chiroptera and 15 species of Rodentia were documented, with some records being the first for the park. Identifications and natural history data (including a list of associated arthropods) are presented for each of the 26 species.
Sinet, Ethiopian Journal of Science, 2016
Small mammals are ecological regulators in natural habitats. During the present investigation, species composition, distribution and relative abundance of small mammals were studied in Denkoro Forest, South Wollo, and Ethiopia from 2011 to 2012. In this investigation, Capture-Mark-Recapture (CMR) method was used. Data were collected during the wet and dry seasons by using Sherman live-traps (7.6× 8.9 × 22.9 cm. size) and snap-traps, and the traps were randomly laid at different trap sites of the habitats. The area of each live-trap grid was 70 ×70 m. Each of the grids consisted of seven lines, 10 m apart, with a trap station at every 10 m. A total of 49 Sherman traps was set in each grid, for 3 consecutive days. Ten species of small mammals belonging to rodents and insectivores were recorded from the study area. Additional two rodent species (Hystrix cristata and Trachyoryctes splendens)were sighted, but not captured. The small mammals trapped were Lophuromys flavopunctatus (35.7%), Otomys typus (28.5%), Stenocephalemys griseicauda (14.6%), Arvicanthis dembeensis (9.1%), Crocidura flavescens (5.9%), Stenocephalemys albipes (1.9%), Crocidura fumosa (1.4%), Desmomys harringtoni (0.8%), Mus Mahomet (0.6%) and Dendromus lovati (0.3%). Population abundance and species composition of small mammals varied from habitat to habitat and from season to season. Lophuromys flavopunctatus and O. typus were the most widely distributed and abundant species, whereas S. albipes, C. fumosa (in the forest), D. harringtoni, D. lovati and M. mahomet (in the farmland) were restricted species. Seasonal variation and availability of food resulted in variation in abundance and distribution of small mammals from habitat to habitat. Disturbance of small mammals by plant trampling and cutting should be stopped since small mammals are a source of diet to the endemic Ethiopia wolf and other carnivores.
2009
Bushmeat hunting constitutes the most immediate threat to wildlife populations in the Udzungwa Mountains of the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot. This study assesses the impact of hunting by comparing densities of mammalian species between the little hunted West Kilombero Scarp Forest Reserve (WKSFR), the medium-hunted Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve (USFR) and the intensively hunted New Dabaga Ulangambi Forest Reserve (NDUFR). Of the 22 species recorded, 20 were present in WKSFR, 17 in USFR and 12 in NDUFR. Most large species (>40 kg.) were absent from hunted areas, while medium-sized species were reduced more than smaller species. Few traces of Abbot’s duiker were observed in hunted areas and bush pig was reduced below 85% in hunted areas. Hunting appears to have little effect on primates, blue duiker, Harvey’s duiker, aardvark, eastern tree hyrax, and giant pouched rat in USFR, while hunting in NDUFR only seems of less concern for primates and giant pouched rat. Thus, th...
International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 2015
Large animal aerial counts were done in 2010 and 2013 wet and dry season in Mid Kenya/ Tanzania borderland. These counts came after the severe droughts of 2007 and 2010 and so they were critical also in establishing the effects of droughts on large mammal populations. Of the 15 common large mammals seen in the borderland, the five most abundant large wild mammals were the common zebra, common wildebeest, Grants gazelle, the Maasai giraffe, and the common eland respectively but the five rare were the common waterbuck, the common warthog, the lesser kudu, gerenuk, and the olive baboon. Based on the numbers and rate of decline, species of conservation concern were common waterbuck, olive baboon, buffalo, common warthog, lesser kudu and African elephant respectively. Elephant numbers in Amboseli stood at 1,145, much higher than Magadi / Namanga (69), West Kilimanjaro (67) and Lake Natron area (27) of the estimated 1,308 in the borderland. Amboseli area led in numbers, proportion and density, but had the lowest values on population growth. It is recommended that species that are declining have focused conservation action. For West Kilimanjaro and Lake Natron area, poaching and habitat degradation should be addressed. Consistent cross border monitoring should continue to animal establish trends and performance of ecosystems in the borderland.