We conducted a study on the terrestrial small mammal communities (< 1kg) in the Volcanoes National Park (VNP), Rwanda, to determine species diversity and altitudinal/habitat associations. Data on environmental variables (habitat cover, temperature, wind speed and rainfall) were incorporated into the analysis. Both Sherman live and snap traps were set in transects from 30 September to 8 November 2009 at eight habitats (ranging from 2380 m to 3710 m). Trapping over 4800 trap nights resulted in the capture of 305 individuals (including 4 recaptures), of which 247 were identified to species level. These represented eight species of rodents, three species of shrews and one mongoose. Total numbers of small mammals were high in brush ridge and herbaceous habitats, and low in alpine and bamboo habitats. The midaltitude zone housed a high number of small mammals. Of the species captured, Praomys degraaffi is vulnerable and Sylvisorex vulcanorum is near threatened (IUCN 2009); six species (Hylomyscus vulcanorum, Mus bufo, Praomys degraaffi, Sylvisorex vulcanorum, Lophuromys woosnami and Trachyoryctes ruandae) are endemic to the Albertine rift; and four species are new to the Park list. Species richness varied significantly among the different habitat types. Species richness and diversity increased with elevation up to the middle altitudes (2860-3255 m) and then declined with increasing elevation. Endemic species were found mainly in low and middle attitude habitats, and thus, these habitat types are important for conservation of small mammals at VNP. The numbers of known small mammal endemics for VNP will probably be increased if trapping is done seasonally and a more diverse regime of trapping techniques is employed. Key words: Rodentia, Soricidae, endemism, Volcanoes NP, species diversity.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uct/oai:localhost:11427/4939 |
| Date | January 2010 |
| Creators | Uzera, Nehemia Puuaapo |
| Contributors | Bradfield, Dave |
| Publisher | University of Cape Town, Faculty of Science, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Master Thesis, Masters, MSc |
| Format | application/pdf |
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