Use of forest remnants and teak (Tectona grandis) plantations by small mammals in Mato Grosso, Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACTPlanted forests are replacing extensive areas of degraded pastures. It is extremely relevant for species conservation to understand how the community of small mammals responds to these changes. This study assessed the use of habitats in native remnants surrounded by a teak matrix by small mammals in the Cerrado, in the Pantanal and in the Amazon, in Mato Grosso state, Brazil. We used pitfall, Sherman and Tomahawk traps for sampling. The traps were installed at a distance of 50, 150 and 400 m from the edge of the fragment to the matrix, and the same design was used for the forest fragments. We recorded 22 species with 370 individuals of small mammals captured (13 rodents and nine marsupials), with a total effort of 14,350 conventional traps/night and 4,700 pitfalls/night. In this study, the teak plantation presented a barrier, preventing the dispersion of some species, especially Gracilinanus agilis, Marmosa demerarae, Philander opossum, Neacomys spinosus and Oecomys catherinae. Among the species that used the matrix, 10 were captured mainly up to 150 m from edges, suggesting a decrease in species richness as well as abundance within the matrix compared to remnants, indicating that remnants of native vegetation represent important refuges for small mammal biodiversity.