Habitat Distribution and Species Diversity of Small Mammals in South-east Queensland in relation to Vegetation Structure

1981 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Hockings
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Vegetation Structure ◽  
Vegetation Density ◽  
Habitat Distribution ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Constituent Species ◽  
Two Measures ◽  
Small Mammal Species

Two measures of vegetation structure and density failed to show any relationship ta species diversity of small mammals in a series of south-east Queensland coastal habitats. However, the distribution of some species appears to be related to the responses of the animals to vegetation density. Two groups of small mammal species, a rainforest group and a heathland group, are evident. The distribution of these groups is discussed in relation to the habitat responses of the constituent species.

scholarly journals Woodland reserves within an urban agglomeration as important refuges for small mammals

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakub Gryz ◽  
Grzegorz Lesiński ◽  
Dagny Krauze-Gryz ◽  
Przemysław Stolarz
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Urban Agglomeration ◽  
Anthropogenic Change ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
H Index ◽  
Mammal Assemblages ◽  
Diversity Profiles ◽  
Small Mammal Species

Abstract The aim of the study was to determine the species richness (S, Chao- 1 index) and diversity (Shannon-Wiener H’ index, diversity profiles) of small mammal assemblages in woodland reserves in an urban agglomeration and to compare the similarity of assemblages (with the use of Ward’s method) in terms of proportions of small mammals connected to the habitats of different level of naturalness. The work was conducted from 2004-2015 at 9 woodland reserves in Warsaw (Poland). On the basis of the analysis of pellets of tawny owls Strix aluco, 2792 individuals were identified (24 species). Reserves supported from 7 to 16 of the small mammal species, the highest overall number of species estimated (Chao-1) was 19. Species present in every reserve were Apodemus flavicollis, A. agrarius, Rattus norvegicus, Sorex araneus and Talpa europaea. Least frequent were Microtus agrestis and M. subterraneus. Seven species of bats were detected. Species diversity was lower in the biggest forest complexes, where forest rodents dominated small mammal assemblage. The heterogeneity of habitats within reserve and in the surroundings, in combination with limited human-interference, resulted in an increase in the species diversity. Overall, the reserves under study were an important refuge for small mammals within the Warsaw agglomeration. However, safeguarding of adjacent areas against excessive anthropogenic change is needed and ecological corridors that link different areas need to be retained.

scholarly journals The influence of fire on populations of small mammals of the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. G Kern
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Low Diversity ◽  
Small Mammal Species

A total of 16 000 trap-nights was employed over eleven months to examine the influence of burning on small mammal populations in two major veld-types of the Kruger National Park. Four burning treatments (control, annual August burning, triennial August and April burning) were examined in detail and the following parameters determined: small mammal species composition, population density, biomass and species diversity. The control treatment had a high, stable small mammal density, biomass and diversity; the annual burning treatment had a low diversity and was dominated by Tatera leucogaster. The triennial burning treatments showed a cycle of species composition from domination by T. leucogaster following burning, through domination by other rodent species to domination by Crocidura hirta at the end of the cycle. The distributions and movements of the small mammals can be explained in terms of cover and litter preferences.

An attempt to determine the size of the Common Barn-owl’s (Tyto alba) hunting area based on its prey composition

2021 ◽  
pp. 175815592110660
Author(s):  
Jenő J Purger ◽  
Dávid Szép
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Barn Owl ◽  
Tyto Alba ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Open Forest ◽  
Prey Composition ◽  
Small Mammal Species ◽  
Owl Pellets

The relative abundance of small mammal species detected from Common Barn-owl pellets reflects the landscape structure and habitat pattern of the owl’s hunting area, but it is also affected by the size of the collected pellet sample and the size of the supposed hunting area. The questions arise: how many pellets should be collected and analyzed as well as how large hunting area should be taken into consideration in order to reach the best correspondence between the owl’s prey composition and the distribution of habitats preferred by small mammals preyed in supposed hunting areas? For this study, we collected 1045 Common Barn-owl pellets in a village in southern Hungary. All detected small mammal species were classified into functional groups (guilds) preferring urban, open, forest and wetland habitats. The proportion of functional groups was compared to the proportion of these habitats around the pellet collection site within circles of one, two, and three km radius. Saturation curves showed that at least 300 pellets or ca. 600 mammalian remains are required for the detection of the 19 small mammal species. The share of small mammals detected in the prey and their functional groups according to their habitat preference showed an increasing consistency with the distribution of real habitats in the potential hunting area of a radius of 3 km around the owl’s breeding or resting place.

scholarly journals Flea Communities on Small Mammals in Lowland Environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 260-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Baláž ◽  
Martina Zigová
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Blood Sucking ◽  
Four Seasons ◽  
Small Mammal Species

AbstractThe landscape of south-western Slovakia is characterised by anthropogenous reshaping, while fragments of undisturbed, waterlogged habitats have been preserved in what remains of the meandering ancient Žitava River. These refuges are inhabited by various small mammal species and their blood-sucking ectoparasites. Between 2014 and 2018, research on them was carried out in Slovakia’s Danubian Lowland (Podunajská nížina) during three out of the four seasons (spring, summer and autumn). The small mammals were captured at 27 localities. The occurrence of nine flee species from the Hystrichopsyllidae, Ctenophthalmidae and Ceratophyllidae families was documented on 12 small burrowing mammals. During the course of all the seasons in which research was conducted, Ctenophthalmus agyrtes, C. assimilis, Megabothris turbidus a Nosopsyllus fasciatus were found, among the most dominant species to be seen on small burrowing mammals.

Ecology of mites (Acarina) on small mammals (Eulipotyphla, Rodentia) in Podunajská nížina plain

Biologia ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zuzana Poláčiková
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Detrended Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Ecological Groups ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Ecological Evaluation ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
Mite Communities ◽  
Small Mammal Species

AbstractThis study deals with the species distribution and structure of mite communities living in the fur of small mammals. Mesostigmatic mites (Acarina: Mesostigmata) of several small mammal species were studied at several sites of Slovakia situated in the Podunajská nížna lowland. The aims deal with ecological evaluation of mesostigmatic mites and their small mammal hosts. The research was done from 2005 to 2007. Several small mammal species were caught at 16 sites in the research area. These represent 13 types of biotopes. On the captured small mammals we recorded 3,141 individuals of mesostigmatic mites (7 families and 22 species). The dominance and the diversity of the recorded mites were analysed. Mites being interpreted as the variable one were evaluated by cluster analysis and multifactor analysis (detrended correspondence analysis, principal components analysis, redundancy analysis). Small terrestrial mammals as hosts of mites represent “holders” of environmental factors, in the analysis they are being evaluated as explanatory variable mainly. They transform direct impact of the environment and for that reason the ecological evaluation of mites is specific comparing to other taxonomical and ecological groups of animals.

The scientific, financial and ethical implications of three common wildlife-trapping designs

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen P. Waudby ◽  
Sophie Petit ◽  
Matthew J. Gill
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Capture Rate ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
Small Mammal Species ◽  
Capture Rates

Abstract ContextTrapping design influences information collected about wildlife populations and biodiversity. Trapping is also resource-intensive and has animal welfare implications. AimsThe scientific, financial and ethical performances of three trap designs were compared for estimating diversity and sampling small vertebrates. MethodsSmall vertebrates were trapped over 16 trapping sessions, from April 2009 to May 2011, with aluminium box-style (Elliott) traps and two pitfall trap designs (shallow–wide and deep–narrow), in an arid environment. Key resultsShallow pitfalls recorded highest overall species richness (S=22) and diversity (qD=10.622), reptile diversity (qD=8.112) and reptile capture rates (13.600 individuals per 100 trap nights). Shallow and deep pitfalls sampled ~79.0% and 85.0% (respectively) more small mammals than did Elliott traps. Deep pitfalls sampled the greatest diversity (qD=6.017) and number (29.700 individuals per 100 trap nights) of small mammals, and captured the greatest number of small mammal species (0.003) and individuals (0.106) per dollar. Shallow pitfalls were the most cost-efficient trap type for sampling reptile species (0.003) and individuals (0.044) per dollar. Between-session recapture rates were greatest in Elliott traps, indicating an increased likelihood of biased capture rates for certain small mammal species over time. Elliott traps were the least efficient traps on most scientific and cost measures, and recorded the greatest overall recapture rates, particularly for Sminthopsis crassicaudata and S. macroura. Body size of one species only, the nationally threatened Pseudomys australis, influenced its capture rate, with larger individuals more likely to be caught in deep pitfalls. Mortality was highest in pitfalls and mostly related to interactions between animals caught in the same trap. Key conclusionsShallow pitfalls are suitable for studies focused on estimating species richness, and reptile diversity and abundance. Deep pitfalls are cost-effective for sampling small mammals. Ethical issues associated with pitfalls could be managed by checking traps more often at night, and/or including materials that provide increased protection from predators caught in the same trap, particularly during periods of high abundance. ImplicationsTrap design profoundly influences cost-effectiveness and welfare outcomes of wildlife research. We provide a tool to assist cost-benefit related decisions.

Analysis of temporal variation in the diversity of a small mammal community

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 1106-1109 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Asher ◽  
V. G. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Temporal Variation ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Single Sample ◽  
Meadow Vole ◽  
Sample Surveys ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Mammal Diversity

The validity of using single-sample surveys to measure small mammal diversity was assessed by measuring the effect of short-term, temporal variation in species diversity on the spatial diversity of small mammals occupying fencerow habitats. The diversity of small mammals varied seasonally. Interaction between changes in richness and evenness accounted for the temporal variation in diversity. Temporal variation was attributed to the response of the small mammals to seasonal changes in the vegetation, to the fluctuation in meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) captures among seasons, and to the appearance of small numbers of several mammal species during the summer. Significant spatial variation in species diversity existed, but was masked by the effect of seasonal changes in habitat on the small mammals. Erroneous conclusions could therefore be drawn from the pooling of many single-sample surveys of small mammal diversity.

scholarly journals Temporal variation in small nonvolant mammal (Cricetidae and Didelphidae) microhabitat associations in the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 663-681
Author(s):  
Robert Owen
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Variation ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Interannual Variation ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest ◽  
Small Mammal Species

Many questions concerning habitat preferences of Neotropical small mammals remain unanswered. These questions include where the animal lives within and among the available habitats, and the temporal (seasonal and interannual) variation in the habitat associations. The objectives of this research were: (1) to determine the associations of non-volant small mammal species (Rodentia and Didelphimorphia) with specific microhabitat characteristics including vegetation structure in an area near the western boundary of the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest, and (2) to evaluate seasonal and interannual variation in those associations. Three grids were sampled in three seasons (Dry, Wet, Variable) during two years (2015-2017). The four predominant small mammal species (Gracilinanus agilis, Akodon montensis, Hylaeamys megacephalus, and Oligoryzomys nigripes) were evaluated for seasonal and interannual variation in habitat preferences. Each of the four exhibited seasonal and/or interannual variation in microhabitat preferences for three to six of the 17 environmental variables analyzed. This is the first study to explicitly evaluate temporal variation in habitat associations of small mammals in the Atlantic Forest ecoregion. The temporal patterns of habitat association among these four predominant species reveal a complex spatially and temporally dynamic composition and structure in this small mammal community.

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