Small mammal communities on beaches and lakeside farmland in the Poyang Lake region after the Three-Gorges Project

Abstract

Abstract Studies around Dongting Lake have indicated that the Three Gorges Project (TGP) has had a large effect on the structure of the small mammal community; however, few studies have analyzed this around Poyang Lake. To understand the status of the small mammal community around Poyang Lake, the lakeside farmland and beaches were surveyed in 2015 and 2016. The results showed the overall trap success was 10.12% on farmland and 5.47% on lake beaches, with five species of Rodentia and one species of Soricomorpha. The density of the small mammal was high, especially in rice fields. Apodemus agrarius and Rattus losea were the dominant species, representing 49.59% and 47.68% of the species composition on farmland. The dominant species on the beach area were A. agrarius (66.01%) and R. losea (28.76%). The species abundance and diversity indexes of the small mammal community on beaches were similar to those on farmland. The widespread presence of A. agrarius, R. losea, and Rattus norvegicus on the beaches indicates the farmland community had migrated to the beach area. In conclusion, it is important to elucidate the succession of the small mammal community inhabiting the lake beaches in downstream areas to quantify the impact of the TGP.