Seasonal changes in density, demography and body composition of small mammals in a southern temperate forest

Abstract

Eleven small mammal species (nine rodents and two shrews) were recorded in 16 months of trapping in the Karkloof Forest, Natal. Total densities varied seasonally, ranging from 60.7 animals/ha in the dry autumn and winter to 29.1 animals/ha at the onset of the rains in spring and early summer. Peaks in breeding coincided with high body fat and water content in the five common species during summer: in winter, when body fat and water levels were low, there was no breeding. This may be related to poor food quality at this time. Annual changes in density, breeding season and juvenile recruitment of Rhabdomys pumilio, Mastomys natalensis and Myosorex varius are the same as recorded in conspecific populations from other habitat types and do not seem modified by the habitat stability of the forest environment. Of the five common species, only Grammomys dolichurus, one of the few forest‐associated small mammals in southern Africa, and Graphiurus murinus demonstrated stable, K‐selectéd life‐history styles.