Non-volant Mammal Species Research Articles

Diversity, Encounter Rate and Detection of Non-Volant Nocturnal Mammals on Two Malaysian Islands.

Nocturnal mammals constitute a crucial component of tropical faunal diversity, but not much is known about the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on the habitat use and detectability of these species. We investigated which habitat and environmental variables impact the detectability of non-volant nocturnal arboreal mammals across varying habitat types at two tropical islands with different levels of anthropogenic development in Malaysia. We conducted night transect line and point count surveys following pre-existing paths in Penang Island and Langkawi Island between 2019 and 2020. We used a head torch with red filter and a thermal imaging device (FLIR) to enhance animal detection success. We calculated the encounter rates (individual km-1) for each species as a proxy for abundance. Overall, we detected 17 species, but did not find higher species diversity in intact forested environments compared to disturbed areas. Encounter rates of the most observed species were influenced by 'time after sunset' on the highly developed island of Penang, whereas on the rural island of Langkawi, detection was higher in sites with better canopy connectivity. Different species of non-volant nocturnal arboreal mammals use their respective habitats differently and thus, are differently impacted by varying levels of anthropogenic activities. Our results provided baseline data on the diversity, encounter rate, and detectability of these highly elusive species, which can also help to further improve methodologies for the detection of nocturnal wildlife.

Non-volant mammals of the Serra da Fortaleza Wildlife Refuge, southern Goiás, central Brazil

Protected areas are essential for the maintenance of biodiversity, but we know little about local biodiversity in these areas. In this study, we describe the composition and structure of the non-volant mammal community in the Serra da Fortaleza Wildlife Refuge in southern Goiás state, central Brazil. We distributed 20 hexagons (~57 ha each), 10 in the protected area and 10 in its surroundings. We collected data on composition, richness, and abundance of non-volant mammals using live and pitfall traps, camera traps, and active searching. We recorded 39 species (five threatened) of non-volant mammals. The use of diverse sampling methods allowed for a com-prehensive depiction of mammal diversity and composition, lead to the discovery of new species records for the region, including Marmosa limae Thomas, 1920, Cerradomys scotti (Langguth & Bonvicino, 2002), Hylaeamys megacephalus (G. Fischer, 1814), and Tayassu pecari (Link, 1795). We emphasize the importance of protected areas for the conservation of the mammal fauna in the highly fragmented landscape of central Brazil.

Climate change should drive mammal defaunation in tropical dry forests.

Human-induced climate change has intensified negative impacts on socioeconomic factors, the environment, and biodiversity, including changes in rainfall patterns and an increase in global average temperatures. Drylands are particularly at risk, with projections suggesting they will become hotter, drier, and less suitable for a significant portion of their species, potentially leading to mammal defaunation. We use ecological niche modelling and community ecology biodiversity metrics to examine potential geographical range shifts of non-volant mammal species in the largest Neotropical dryland, the Caatinga, and evaluate impacts of climate change on mammal assemblages. According to projections, 85% of the mammal species will lose suitable habitats, with one quarter of species projected to completely lose suitable habitats by 2060. This will result in a decrease in species richness for more than 90% of assemblages and an increase in compositional similarity to nearby assemblages (i.e., reduction in spatial beta diversity) for 70% of the assemblages. Small-sized mammals will be the most impacted and lose most of their suitable habitats, especially in highlands. The scenario is even worse in the eastern half of Caatinga where habitat destruction already prevails, compounding the threats faced by species there. While species-specific responses can vary with respect to dispersal, behavior, and energy requirements, our findings indicate that climate change can drive mammal assemblages to biotic homogenization and species loss, with drastic changes in assemblage trophic structure. For successful long-term socioenvironmental policy and conservation planning, it is critical that findings from biodiversity forecasts are considered.

Lista atualizada dos pequenos mamíferos não-voadores do Parque Nacional da Serra da Bocaina, sudeste do Brasil

Abstract In the core of the Atlantic Forest biome, the Serra da Bocaina National Park (SBNP) is located in the Atlantic Forest Southeast area of endemism for vertebrates. Filling gaps in knowledge about the spatial distribution and occurrence of species in national parks is of fundamental importance to know how many species are protected and to guide conservation initiatives. Here we updated the non-volant small mammal species list of the SBNP, providing new data on species list and abundance, with species identified mainly by karyotype and/or molecular analysis. Twelve sampling sessions with a capture-mark-recapture approach were carried out in four sites in the SBNP from 2013 to 2016, during the paving works of the state highway RJ-165 (Estrada Parque Paraty-Cunha), municipality of Paraty, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Non-volant small mammals (Rodentia and Didelphimorphia) were sampled using Sherman® and Tomahawk® live traps (18,987 trap-nights) and pitfall traps (4,591 trap-nights). Thirty-two species (11 marsupials and 21 rodents) were recorded from 1,185 captured specimens. Species richness ranged from 18 to 28 between sites. Ten and 11 species were exclusively captured in live traps and pitfall traps, respectively. The observed richness (32 species) represented 91.4% of the estimated species richness for the study area. Sites 2 and 4 were the most similar to each other regarding species composition, and site 3 was the most dissimilar. The species with highest relative abundance were Euryoryzomys russatus (14%) and Delomys dorsalis (14%), while six species had relative abundances lower than 1%. Fourteen and 17 species were identified by karyotype and molecular analysis, respectively. The present study added 22 species to the park’s non-volant small mammals list, which now has 37 species with confirmed occurrence. This species richness found in the SBNP is one of the highest ever recorded for the group of non-volant small mammals in protected areas of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, corroborating the Serra da Bocaina region as a biodiversity hotspot.

DIVERSITY OF NON-VOLANT SMALL MAMMALS IN PULAU TINGGI, JOHOR, MALAYSIA

A non-volant small mammal survey was conducted at Pulau Tinggi between July and September 2019. This study aimed to provide baseline data for non-volant small mammals in Pulau Tinggi by setting 55 cage traps and 20 pitfalls for 44 trapping nights. A total of 20 individuals of non-volant small mammals were documented, representing five species from three families: Soricidae, Sciuridae and Muridae. The Rajah spiny rat (Maxomys rajah) and the Red spiny rat (Maxomys surifer) were the most abundant species (n=6) of non-volant small mammals in Pulau Tinggi. The Malayan field rat (Rattus tiomanicus) was the least species (n=1). The Malayan shrew (Crocidura malayana) is the only shrew recorded on the island. The analysis of similarities between our study site and other Malaysian islands reveals that Pulau Tinggi shares more similarities with Pulau Pangkor and Pulau Perhentian than Pulau Tioman. The small mammal richness on Pulau Tinggi is relatively low compared to other islands, most likely due to the study site’s limited coverage and time constraints. Long-term monitoring is required to determine the true diversity of species and distribution of small mammals on Pulau Tinggi.

Time-lagged effects of habitat fragmentation on terrestrial mammals in Madagascar.

Biodiversity is severely threatened by habitat destruction. As a consequence of habitat destruction, the remaining habitat becomes more fragmented. This results in time-lagged population extirpations in remaining fragments when these are too small to support populations in the long term. If these time-lagged effects are ignored, the long-term impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation will be underestimated. We quantified the magnitude of time-lagged effects of habitat fragmentation for 157 nonvolant terrestrial mammal species in Madagascar, one of the biodiversity hotspots with the highest rates of habitat loss and fragmentation. We refined species' geographic ranges based on habitat preferences and elevation limits and then estimated which habitat fragments were too small to support a population for at least 100 years given stochastic population fluctuations. We also evaluated whether time-lagged effects would change the threat status of species according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assessment framework. We used allometric relationships to obtain the population parameters required to simulate the population dynamics of each species, and we quantified the consequences of uncertainty in these parameter estimates by repeating the analyses with a range of plausible parameter values. Based on the median outcomes, we found that for 34 species (22% of the 157 species) at least 10% of their current habitat contained unviable populations. Eight species (5%) had a higher threat status when accounting for time-lagged effects. Based on 0.95-quantile values, following a precautionary principle, for 108 species (69%) at least 10% of their habitat contained unviable populations, and 51 species (32%) had a higher threat status. Our results highlight the need to preserve continuous habitat and improve connectivity between habitat fragments. Moreover, our findings may help to identify species for which time-lagged effects are most severe and which may thus benefit the most from conservation actions.

NON-VOLANT MAMMALS OF THE SERRA DA MACACA PARK ROAD (SP-139), SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL

The objective of this study was to survey non-volant mammals at Serra da Macaca Park Road (SP-139), particularly during road daily closure. Visual searches and camera traps were used to record mammals, and estimator Jackknife to estimate the expected richness. Differences in diversity were calculated using the Shannon-Wiener index (H’). In total, 12 species of non-volant mammals, four of them considered threatened, were sampled. Additionally, roadkills of the non-volant mammals were recorded too. The absence of some predominantly nocturnal species from the list of the roadkilled non-volant mammals was noticeable. The results highlight the importance of the temporary road closures, during periods of high mammal activity.

High richness of non-volant mammals in a seasonal forest fragment in southeastern Brazil

The seasonal forest formations of the Atlantic Forest are a threatened and poorly known habitat. We present here a list of the non-volant mammals occurring in a 515‑ha forest fragment known as Santa Maria and located in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. Our surveys are based on live trap captures, camera traps, and active searches for footprints, as well as secondary data. We list 29 species of non-volant mammals in the fragment, recorded between 1996 and 2021. One species found in the fragment, Leontopithecus chrysopygus, is globally endangered. Two species are classified as "vulnerable" in the global red list: Myrmecophaga tridactyla, and Tapirus terresris. One species, Panthera onca, is classified as "critically endangered" in São Paulo state. The red howler, Alouatta guariba, was not recorded after 1999 and has probably been extirpated in the fragment. We show that the number of non-volant mammal species in Santa Maria fragment is high, in relation to its size. The fragment is also in a strategic position, between the Morro do Diabo state park and the Black Lion Tamarin Ecological station, the two largest protected areas in the region. Considering its high mammal richness and its possible role as stepping stone for the local fauna, we recommend that the fragment become a protected area.

Comparative biogeography of volant and nonvolant mammals in a temperate island archipelago

AbstractIsland biogeography theory is a foundational ecological concept that describes how island or habitat patch size and isolation predict biodiversity, but few have studied how the effects of island biogeography vary with life history characteristics of temperate mammal communities. From 2014 to 2020, we surveyed volant and nonvolant mammals within the Apostle Islands archipelago (Wisconsin, USA) using camera trapping, live trapping, and acoustic monitoring. We used linear regression and information‐theoretic model selection to evaluate the effects of island size and isolation on indices of biodiversity. We also examined the effects of life history characteristics (i.e., body mass, winter inactivity) on the relative abundance and distribution of each species on the islands and the mainland. For volant mammals, island size and isolation were not associated with any metrics of diversity. We found island size was positively associated with nonvolant mammal species richness and diversity, but not species evenness. Island isolation was not a significant predictor for small nonvolant mammal diversity, although both size and isolation appeared to influence island biogeography of medium‐large nonvolant mammals. We also found that the interaction between winter inactivity and body mass influenced the vagility of nonvolant mammals in the archipelago. Our results suggest that life history characteristics are important in mediating species responses to biogeography, supporting the dispersal‐limitation nonequilibrium view of island biogeography theory, particularly for nonvolant mammals.

Small non-volant mammals from Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco, a fragment of tropical dry forest in western Ecuador

Basic diversity studies of small non-volant mammals are scarce in western Ecuador, evidencing a knowledge gap regarding the mammalian fauna in the region. These organisms play key roles in important ecological processes and may be affected by several anthropogenic factors. Herein we report the results of a rapid assessment of marsupials and rodents of Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco (Guayas province), a fragment of dry forest surrounded by urban development. Between October 2016 and March 2017, we trapped rodents and marsupials with Sherman and Tomahawk live traps; also, we conducted direct observations and searched for skeletal remains. We recorded nine species of small non-volant mammals, seven native and two invasive. The marsupial Marmosa simonsi was the most frequently captured species. We reported three previously unrecorded species for this reserve: Sigmodon peruanus, Aegialomys baroni, and Rhipidomys latimanus. We recommend continued monitoring of the mammalian fauna of Cerro Blanco using alternative techniques such as pitfall traps, canopy live traps, and analysis of owl pellets. These efforts will permit a better understanding of the marsupial and rodent assemblage in this important site for biodiversity conservation in coastal Ecuador, a region that unfortunately faces intense human pressure.

Asynchronous ecological upheavals on the Western Mediterranean islands: New insights on the extinction of their autochthonous small mammals

Comparative studies on extinction scenarios are an invaluable contribution to enhance our understanding of their patterns and mechanisms underpinning them. This paper presents new radiocarbon dates based on specimens of five extinct mammal species from Mallorca and Sardinia. The new evidence permits to reanalyse the extinction dynamics on both islands. Radiocarbon ages directly obtained on bone collagen from these species show evidence of different extinction patterns on Mallorca and Sardinia. For Mallorca the most reliable scenario is a mass extinction of all non-volant mammal species as an immediate consequence of the first human irruption on the island. However, for Sardinia, the extinction of autochthonous mammals lasted over several millennia. The new radiocarbon dates of the last occurrence of endemic mammals suggest a sequence of punctuated extinction events throughout the late Sardinian Holocene. These events are here tentatively related to successive human colonisation waves. The current lack of chronological dates for some Sardinian fossil mammals impedes to outline a more accurate pattern of extinction events. The present paper points that Mallorca have been more vulnerable than Sardinia to the external disturbances introduced by humans. We suggest that the capacity of each island to absorb external perturbations could be related to the island area, the duration of the isolated evolution and the degree of faunal complexity.

Spatial variation of small mammal communities in northwestern Argentina

Abstract Northwestern Argentina (NWA) is a region characterized by a complex geomorphology, and encompasses six ecoregions in a relatively small area. The environmental heterogeneity of NWA and the sensitivity of small mammals towards environmental and landscape changes constitute a good scenario to assess the factors that influence small mammal diversity patterns in the region. We studied small mammal communities obtained from pellet samples in 24 localities of NWA. We identified 50 non-volant small mammal species and obtained topographic, climate and land cover variables. Our results show that small mammal communities respond to environmental factors at a regional scale. Such variations were explained in different proportions by the geographic position of the collecting sites, landscape and climate. Furthermore, the combined effect of these factors was the main determinant of species abundance patterns. Our results support the need of large-scale approaches to study communities, since the explanations of the observed patterns are simpler and more general. We emphasize the importance of considering the combined effect of different environmental predictors, which allows determining the amount of species variation that is spatially structured, and within that, the amount of variation related to the influence of the measured environmental variables.

Body size affects immune cell proportions in birds and non-volant mammals, but not bats.

Powered flight has evolved several times in vertebrates and constrains morphology and physiology in ways that likely have shaped how organisms cope with infections. Some of these constraints probably have impacts on aspects of immunology, such that larger fliers might prioritize risk reduction and safety. Addressing how the evolution of flight may have driven relationships between body size and immunity could be particularly informative for understanding the propensity of some taxa to harbor many virulent and sometimes zoonotic pathogens without showing clinical disease. Here, we used a comparative framework to quantify scaling relationships between body mass and the proportions of two types of white blood cells - lymphocytes and granulocytes (neutrophils/heterophils) - across 63 bat species, 400 bird species and 251 non-volant mammal species. By using phylogenetically informed statistical models on field-collected data from wild Neotropical bats and from captive bats, non-volant mammals and birds, we show that lymphocyte and neutrophil proportions do not vary systematically with body mass among bats. In contrast, larger birds and non-volant mammals have disproportionately higher granulocyte proportions than expected for their body size. Our inability to distinguish bat lymphocyte scaling from birds and bat granulocyte scaling from all other taxa suggests there may be other ecological explanations (i.e. not flight related) for the cell proportion scaling patterns. Future comparative studies of wild bats, birds and non-volant mammals of similar body mass should aim to further differentiate evolutionary effects and other aspects of life history on immune defense and its role in the tolerance of (zoonotic) infections.

The diversity of small mammals in Pulau Perhentian Kecil, Terengganu, Malaysia

Islands are generally rich in marine biodiversity, but it also often hides unique and endemic terrestrial wildlife. The data of terrestrial wildlife in Malaysian islands are still severely lacking, notably from small islands. Hence, this study was conducted to survey and update the small mammal diversity (bats and non-volant small mammals) in Pulau Perhentian Kecil, a tourist destination famous for its magnificent, diverse marine life and white sandy beaches. Despite their touristic popularity, very few information is known about the faunal diversity in this island compare to their more massive neighbouring island, Pulau Perhentian Besar. The survey was carried out from 21 to 30 May 2014 recorded 56 individuals encompasses eight species of bats and five species of non-volant small mammals that were captured using mist nets, harp traps, and cage traps. The survey recorded 10 new species locality records for the island in which, five species were never recorded in Pulau Perhentian Besar. Hipposideros dyacorum, Tylonycteris fulvida, T. malayana, Rattus exulans, and Sundamys annandalei are also new distribution records for the Malaysian East Coast islands highlighting the importance of protecting island biodiversity. Nonetheless, it is hoped that this study not only highlights the species diversity on the island but also serve as a data for sustainable island tourism management planning, which will be crucial for the sustainable development and management of this ecologically sensitive area.

Volant and Small Non-volant Mammals of Dinagat Island, Philippines

The Philippine province of Dinagat Islands supports a huge array of flora and fauna with a high rate of endemism, including three species of mammals found nowhere else in the world. However, anthropogenic activities such as mining are rampant on the island and present a grave threat to the island’s unique biodiversity. We conducted a survey of volant and small non-volant mammals in selected municipalities of Dinagat Islands to contribute to the current understanding of Philippine mammalian fauna. A total of 17 species of volant mammals were recorded among 420 individuals captured in mist nets, 11 species of which are fruit bats and six are insectivorous bats. As for small non-volant mammals, a total of eight species were recorded from 51 individuals captured using a combination of trapping, mist-netting, and transect walks. Among these, eight and six species of volant and non-volant mammals, respectively, were Philippine endemics. We also recorded six species listed under different categories of threat based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order (DENR-DAO). Four species were new records for the Dinagat Islands: Harpionycteris whiteheadi, Rhinolophus subrufus, Pipistrellus javanicus, and Myotis muricola – bringing the total number of recorded mammals on the island to 38 species. With our limited sampling methods, it is possible that some species were overlooked and that new records and novel species may still be discovered as more extensive surveys utilizing other sampling techniques, such as acoustic surveys and the use of different baits and traps, are conducted. Nonetheless, the presence of endemic and threatened species in all our sites – especially those with relatively intact forest – underlines the need for the continued protection of their remaining habitats. Furthermore, our findings emphasize the need for the proper rehabilitation and restoration of areas impacted by mining activities to provide additional habitat and resources for mammals on the island.

Sampling biases of small non-volant mammals (Mammalia: Rodentia and Didelphimorphia) surveys in Paraná state, Brazil

ABSTRACT The lack of information on biological aspects of small mammals in Brazil fits into two of the main gaps in knowledge of biodiversity – the Linnean and Wallacean shortfall. We performed a broad compilation of studies developed in the Paraná state to consolidate the first list of non-volant small mammal species. Furthermore, we indicate which regions lack information and greater sampling efforts to understand the biological aspects of small mammals. We listed 50 species belonging to 30 genera, five families, and two orders, which represent 37% of marsupials and small rodent species occurring in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Our results indicate that are regions in the Paraná state, such as the southwest, without a single record of small mammals, reveling a Wallacean shortfall of approximately 138.584 km2. Studies on the small-bodied mammal fauna in the state of Paraná are influenced by accessibility bias, concentrated at sites less than 50 kilometers distant from cities, roads, or airports. New research will not only have the challenge of knowing the species richness in regions that are still poorly or hitherto no studied, but also evaluate the state and the population dynamics of the species that persist in densely anthropized areas.

Assessing Mammal Species Losses Due to Habitat Loss and Fragmentation Across the World's Terrestrial Ecoregions

Although there is mounting evidence that habitat loss is a key driver of biodiversity loss, global assessments typically ignore the additional effects of habitat fragmentation. Here, we assessed the combined effect of habitat loss and fragmentation on non-volant mammal species richness in 804 of the world’s terrestrial ecoregions. To that end we used a species-area model that integrates differences in both habitat suitability and habitat connectivity, accounting for species habitat preference, patch size, inter-patch distances, landscape matrix permeability and species’ dispersal capacity. On average across the ecoregions, 10 mammal species are committed to extinction due to habitat loss and fragmentation combined, up to a maximum of 86. On average, 9% of the estimated species loss is caused by fragmentation, yet this can be up to 90%. Our results imply that comprehensive strategies for meeting international biodiversity targets require not only combatting habitat loss, but also measures to reduce fragmentation.

Mammals of Mt. Pinatubo, Luzon Island, Philippines: Extreme Resilience Following Catastrophic Disturbance

The catastrophic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 destroyed the forests that covered the peak and impacted the surrounding habitat over a broad area of central Luzon. Information on the mammal fauna of Mt. Pinatubo prior to the eruption is limited but documents a variety of native mammals. In 2011 and 2012, we surveyed mammals at localities along an elevational gradient on the eastern slope of the mountain where vegetation had been devastated by pyroclastic flows and subsequent lahars, and habitat reflected early stages of plant succession. We documented eight species of bats (five fruit bats and three insectivorous bats), seven species of small nonvolant mammals (two non-native and five native rodents), and two native large mammals. Additional species of bats and non-volant mammals present in the vicinity of Mt. Pinatubo prior to the eruption or recently documented at other localities in the Zambales Mountains may be present in remnant forest habitat elsewhere on Pinatubo. Across five survey localities where habitat was in the early stages of regeneration, native species of small non-volant mammals were more widespread and much more abundant than were non-natives. The most abundant native species, Apomys sacobianus, may be endemic to Mt. Pinatubo. It is an extreme example of a “disturbance specialist” that thrives in a severely disturbed habitat. Results underscore the disturbance tolerance of many native small mammals of Luzon and reveal a resilience that is remarkable for a highly endemic insular fauna. Mt. Pinatubo presents opportunities for further studies on how natural disturbance has shaped the evolution of the Philippine biota and may influence its future conservation.

Domestic dogs and water-availability effects on non-volant mammals in a protected area, south-eastern Brazil

Abstract Context Urbanisation and human population growth can generate conflicts, threatening biodiversity. Resource availability and vegetation complexity owing to human influence may increase the potential that a habitat would lose its species. Conservation biology aims to understand how to soften human influence and maintain viable in situ populations. Aims We evaluated the non-volant mammal’s richness and abundance in an Atlantic Forest protected area. Specifically, we tested (1) the effect of distance from water resource and vegetation (canopy and understorey cover) on richness and abundance and (2) the effects of anthropogenic pressure such as domestic dog abundance, distances from human settlements, and from the road on the community of non-volant mammals. Methods We collected the data from January through December of 2017 in 20 sampling sites by using live traps (for small mammals), active search, sand plots and camera traps. Key results We recorded 22 species of non-volant mammals, among them four endemic, two endangered and two invasive exotic species. The main covariates that affected the structure and composition of the non-volant mammal’s assemblage was the domestic dog abundance, which repels most of the species into the forest and water resources, which attract the species to forest edges. Conclusions Our results indicated that the negative impact of domestic dog presence in the non-volant mammal’s community is so evident that it could generate changes in the composition, richness, and local distribution of the species. Implications We suggest that management action in this protected area must initiate a control of domestic dogs to minimise their impact.

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

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.