Species composition, relative abundance and habitat association of small mammals along the altitudinal gradient of Jiren Mountain, Jimma, Ethiopia

The study of the species composition and biotope preferences of small mammals around Kolomak had been carried out for four years (2017–2020). During the study period, 9 species of mouse-like rodents and 3 species of insectivores were found. No Cricetulus migratorius, Terricola subterraneus or Microtus oeconomus were found from the theoretically expected species already known for this area. Around Kolomak, 11 biotopes were investigated, including maple-linden oak forest, agrocenoses, dry and flooded meadows, which are located along the banks of a pond and in a gully-ravine system. The first year of research was in a year of high abundance (2017), and then 9 species were immediately discovered, but species with small abundance, such as Crocidura suaveolens, Sorex minutus, and Micromys minutus, were found in years with a small relative abundance of small mammals. Myodes glareolus, Sylvaemus tauricus and Sylvaemus uralensis are dominant species in the captures. According to the trapping results, 2017 was the year of high relative abundance of small mammals, 2018 was the year of the lowest relative abundance, 2019 and 2020 were years with an average relative abundance. During the study period, 6 species were identified in forest biotopes (Apodemus agrarius, Sylvaemus tauricus, Sylvaemus uralensis, Myodes glareolus, Sorex araneus, and Dryomys nitedula). In ecotones with floodplain biotopes, 8 species were found (Apodemus agrarius, Sylvaemus sylvaticus, Sylvaemus uralensis, Mus musculus, Micromys minutus, Myodes glareolus, and Sorex araneus). Four species (Mus musculus, Sylvaemus sylvaticus, Sylvaemus uralensis, and Microtus levis) were discovered near human settlements. In general, biotopes with the greatest species diversity and number of caught individuals are ecotones of dry and floodplain meadows. In years of high abundance, both species diversity and the number of individuals caught in the oak forest and in ecotones near the pond increased. It should be noted that Myodes glareolus was caught in clear-cuts during the two years (2019-2020) only in the summer of 2020. Earlier, not a single specimen of this species was caught there, although there is a dense weed grass cover in this area and the shrub layer has also grown up in some places, and the clear-cut is surrounded by oak forest.

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Rodent species composition, relative abundance, and habitat association in the Mabira Central Forest Reserve, Uganda

Journal of Vertebrate Biology ◽

10.25225/jvb.20021 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 69 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

James Ssuuna ◽

Rhodes H. Makundi ◽

Moses Isabirye ◽

Christopher A. Sabuni ◽

Waswa S. Babyesiza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Rodent Species ◽

Habitat Association ◽

Forest Reserve

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Species composition, relative abundance and habitat association of rodents in Yekoche Forest, East Gojjam, Ethiopia

International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation ◽

10.5897/ijbc2016.0956 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (9) ◽

pp. 216-223 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Admas Adugnaw ◽

Yihune Mesele

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Habitat Association

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Species Composition, Relative Abundance, and Habitat Association of Avifauna in Zegie Peninsula Forest Patches and Associated Wetlands, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

International Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1155/2021/9928284 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Misganaw Mola ◽

Dessalegn Ejigu ◽

Yibelu Yitayih

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Data Collection ◽

Species Composition ◽

Relative Abundance ◽

Habitat Association ◽

Wet Season ◽

Forest Patches ◽

Species Similarity ◽

Dry Seasons ◽

Wet And Dry Seasons

Introduction. Ethiopia is one of the most avifauna rich countries in Africa. Avifaunal surveys are required to inform conservation decisions and enhance land management for biodiversity. Avifaunal surveys from Ethiopia are lacking. This study examines species composition, relative abundance, and habitat association of avian fauna in Zegie Peninsula forest patches and associated wetlands from surveys carried out from August 2018 to March 2019, covering both the wet and dry seasons. Data Collection. Forest, shrub, lakeshore, and wetland habitats were identified as ecologically relevant habitats in the study area for data collection. Data were collected using point count and line transect methods, for 24 days in total for both seasons in the morning and afternoon. Results. A total of 96 species of birds were identified during the whole study period. Out of the total, 40 species were observed during the wet season, 13 during dry and 43 species in both seasons. There was significant variation of species distribution among habitats. During the wet season, the highest species diversity was recorded in the wetland habitat followed by forest habitat. During the dry season, avian diversity was the highest in the lakeshore followed by wetlands. The highest evenness was observed in the shrubland during both the wet and dry seasons. During the wet season, the highest species similarity was recorded between wetland and lakeshore habitats, and during the dry season, the highest species similarity was recorded between forest and shrub habitats. Based on encounter rate data, 64 (66.66%) of the avian species were uncommon. Conclusions. Compared to previous studies conducted in the study area, species diversity was lower. This might be due to various anthropogenic activities such as deforestation of trees for timber and cutting trees for firewood. Therefore, awareness creation should be given to the local community to reduce habitat destruction due to various human-induced factors.

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