Effect of habitat change through infrastructural development on small mammal diversity and abundance on the Legon Campus of the University of Ghana (original) (raw)
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Natural Science, 2013
The threat to wildlife population is attributed to various anthropogenic activities. The main objective of this study was to identify the influence of fragment size on the population density of rodents in the study area. Fourteen (14) out of forty (40) fragments existing in the area were randomly sampled. The parameters used for the study were number, size of fragments and the corresponding population distribution of rodents in the study area. Fifty hunters in the area were also interviewed. The fragments were stratified into first, second and third order fragments on the basis of their sizes and randomly selected for the study. Indirect method of wildlife census was carried out through the observation of droppings, trail or tract, burrows, eating habits and noise. Fragment growth rate was 18 to 40 (87.5%) in 7 years. Anthropogenic perturbations in the form of cultivation of permanent cropland, settlement expansion, bush burning, timber exploitation and new settlements in areas previously thinly settled or not accessible to outsiders have resulted in disjointed ecosystems. The population density of rodents correlated with fragment size was highly significant ((P < 0.05) r = 0.9). It was then concluded that fragment size greatly influenced the population and diversity of rodent species. It was recommended that the remaining large fragments in the study area should be protected by law from further fragmentation.
Diversity, 2019
Based on compiled small mammal trapping data collected over 12 years from Benin and Niger (3701 individual records from 66 sampling sites), located in mainland Africa, we here describe the small mammal community assemblage in urban habitats along the commercial axis connecting the two countries, from the seaport of Cotonou to the Sahelian hinterland, with a particular focus on invasive species. In doing so, we document extant species distributions, which highlight the risks of continuing the range expansion of three synanthropic invasive rodent species, namely black rats (Rattus rattus), brown rats (R. norvegicus), and house mice (Mus musculus). Using various diversity estimates and community ecology approaches, we detect a latitudinal gradient of species richness that significantly decreased Northward. We show that shrews (Crocidura) represent a very important component of micro-mammal fauna in West African towns and villages, especially at lower latitudes. We also demonstrate that...
Rodents and Herpetofauna (Reptiles and Amphibians) as household pests in the Accra Metropolis, Ghana
West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 2009
Small mammals and herpetofaunal household pests, known for their economic damages, health implications and nuisance effects on people, are frequently seen in the Ghanaian home environment. The study was aimed at assessing the relationship between the level of infrastructural development and the abundance, control methods and perception of people about rodents and herpetofaunal household pests. The results indicated that the incidence of rodents and anurans decreased with increasing infrastructural development of an area, while the occurrence of wall geckos and agama lizards was independent of the level of infrastructural development of the areas. The use of control measures, as well as the type of control measure employed, was also dependent on infrastructural development with the underdeveloped areas employing more physical and sanitary measures on daily basis, contrary to weakly and monthly bases in the developed and developing areas. Chemical control was mostly used in the developing areas while biological control was the main vertebrate pest control method in the developed areas. The level of infrastructural development of an area, therefore, gives an indication of the kind of herpetofaunal and small mammal pests likely to be prevalent in an area, and the consequences of their infestation. This information is particularly important in the choice of accommodation for rental purposes as well as town planning.
Effect of protected area category on mammal abundance in Western Ghana
A comparative study of the species composition and encounter rates of mammals (>400g) in two different protected area categories was conducted in the Bia-Goaso Forest Block in western Ghana from April 2008 to February 2009. One hundred and eighty-seven line transects were systematically distributed in an extensive network of 2 wildlife reserves and 9 forest reserves. Mammal signs (droppings and tracks) belonging to twenty-three species (2 rodents; 5 primates; 6 carnivores and 10 ungulates), representing 4 Families and 17 Genera were recorded for the survey period. The most abundant species recorded were brush-tailed porcupine (Antherurus africanus 14.0%), mammal signs, marsh cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus; 13.4%), Maxwell's duiker (Cephalophus maxwelli; 11.3%) and bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus; 10.2%). Large mammals, including elephant (Loxodonta africana cyclotis), buffalo (Sycerus caffer nanus), chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) and leopard (Panthera pardus) had relati...
The overall objective of this study was to understand the influence of anthropogenic disturbance on the abundance, diversity, richness and distributionof small mammals, and in Wildlife Management Areas of the Ruvuma landscape: Mbarang'andu, Kimbanda, Kisungule in Namtumbo District and Nalika and Chingoli in Tunduru District. The survey was conducted using standard live Sherman trap (23 x 8 x 9 cm) andplastic bucket pitfall traps (33.3cm high x 30cm diameter). A total of 187 individual small mammals were captured, including 17 species in 16 genera and five families. Chingoli had the least number of species with five species while Kimbanda accommodated the highest number of species (with 10), closely followed by Kisungule with 9 species. Species diversity was significantly different between areas of high and low anthropogenic disturbance. Therefore we suggest that human resources and funds should be available to safe guard from any environmental degradation for the benefit of present and future generation.
2010
A study on the species richness, abundance and habitat preference of rodents of Komto Protected Forest was carried out from July, 2009 to Feburary, 2010 encompassing both wet and dry seasons. The study investigates rodent species richness and their habitat preference in the study area. Furthermore, the role of different soil types associated with rodent habitat preference and abundance was also investigated. The study was carried out using Sherman live and snap traps in maize farm, grassland, bushland and forest habitats. A total of 312 individual rodents (live traps) and 66 (snap traps) were captured over 2352 and 1200 trap nights, respectively. The species composition and relative abundance were: Stenocephalemys albipes (48.4%), Lophuromys flavopunctatus (27.6%), Lemniscus. striatus (10.3%), Pelomys harringtoni (7.7%), Rattus rattus (5.1%) and Mus mahomet (0.9%). In addition, a shrew Crocidura flavescens was also captured. Mastomys natalensis and Arvicanthis species were absent which was unexpected as these species were most common in sub-Saharan Africa. Most of the rodent species preferred grassland and maize farm to bushland and forest. Bushland and forest habitats provided more number of individual rodents with few species. This is because environmental variables, for example, plant species composition might not favor all animals equally. Males comprised 52.9% and females 47.1% of the total capture. Among the total rodents captured, adults, subadults and juveniles comprised 60.6 %, 28.8% and 10.6%, respectively. Loamy soil formed the grassland and forest habitats, whereas the maize farm had sandy clay soil. Active or new burrows were not recorded in all habitats during the wet season. This might be a mechanism of avoiding the effect of flooding, and due to the presence of suffcient ground cover in wet season. However, during both seasons, new burrows or/and abandoned burrows were not recorded from grassland and forest habitats because of sufficient ground cover. Therefore, the effect of soil should be considered in ecological based rodent management in agricutural system.
The small mammal community structure of the Moist Semi-Deciduous forest zone of the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region of Ghana was studied. A total effort of 2,340 trap-nights yielded 201 individuals belonging to 11 rodents species (order Rodentia) and three shrew species (order Soricomorpha). Additionally, 13 rodent species belonging to five families, Thryonomidae (1 species), Cricetidae (1 species), Anomaluridae (3 species), Sciuridae (6 species) and Hystricidae (2 species) were observed via ad hoc walks. The relative abundance ranged from 1.9% for the OKF to 17.2% for the ORA. Small mammal diversity was highest and lowest at the PKF and OKF, respectively. The species comprised forest specialists and species adapted to habitats ranging from grassland to forest clearings. Two species, Lophuromys sikapusi, and Mus musculoides were common to all the sites, and together with Mastomys natalensis, constituted about 70% of the total number of captures. The fresh biomass of spec...
Effects of urban habitat fragmentation on common small mammals: species versus communities
Biodiversity and Conservation, 2011
There is an increasing interest in understanding how species respond to the modifications of habitat attributes in urban areas. Patterns in the occurrence and abundance of small mammal communities in 15 isolated patches of remnant natural and semi-natural habitat of Porto Metropolitan Area (Portugal) were assessed against environmental characteristics (from both the patch and the surrounding matrix) of each patch using multiple regressions and canonical correspondence analysis. Four species of common small mammals were found: wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula), Algerian mouse (Mus spretus) and house mouse (Mus musculus). Our results showed that both relative abundance and species richness were negatively affected by urbanization. The species richness also displayed a negative association with the increase of forest around the patch but relative abundance showed the opposite trend. At the species level, the relative abundance of A. sylvaticus and C. russula showed a negative association with urbanization. Our results reveal that these two species also benefit from a mosaic of habitats and pervious areas in the surrounding matrix. The relative abundance of M. spretus and M. musculus showed a negative effect of forest area around the patch. Understanding how the increase of urbanization affects small mammals will be particularly useful for the managers of urban landscapes, as these animals occupy a pivotal position in the ecosystems.
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.