Non-volant Mammal Species Research Articles

Water-energy dynamics, habitat heterogeneity, history, and broad-scale patterns of mammal diversity

Numerous hypotheses on diversity patterns are often presented as if they were mutually exclusive. However, because of multicollinearity, correlational analyses are not able to distinguish the causal effects of different factors on these patterns. For this reason, we examine the interrelationships among current climate, habitat heterogeneity and evolutionary history by partitioning the variation in both total and non-volant mammal species richness in the Iberian Peninsula. Thus, it is possible to determine the variation accounted for by each one of these three components that is not shared by the others, and the respective overlaps. More specifically, we hypothesize that (H1) in warm temperate zones, a small increase in the available energy has strong negative effects on mammal richness if water availability is limiting; (H2) there are functional relationships between woody plant species richness (WOOD) and the richness of mammal species; (H3) there is a signal of evolutionary history in contemporary patterns of species richness, and (H4) mammal richness and the historical variable mean root distance (MRD) respond to the same driving forces. Additionally, we also test for spatial autocorrelation. We found a sharp nonlinear decrease in mammal richness with increasing energy and a monotonic increase with increasing water availability. Moreover, an interaction term between these two climate factors appeared to be statistically significant, so H1 could not be rejected. WOOD remained significant after partialling out both current climate and MRD at the family level (MRDf), supporting H2. The relationship between mammal diversity and MRD averaged by species richness was found to be spurious, but there appeared a significant historical signal using MRDf (this supports H3). The overlaps among these factors are consistent with H4 and suggest that water-energy dynamics have probably been active drivers throughout evolutionary history with habitat heterogeneity, and biotic interactions playing an important role.

Range extension of Oxymycterus wayku (Mammalia: Rodentia: Cricetidae), an endemic species from austral Yungas, and first record for Catamarca province, northwestern Argentina

Oxymycterus wayku Jayat, D’Elía, Pardinãs, Miotti & Ortiz, 2008, a rodent species recently described, is known in only four localities within the Subtropical Mountain Forests of the Yungas eco-region in Tucumán, northwestern Argentina. Specimens were recorded in an owl pellet sample during a recent survey. This record represents the first for Oxymycterus in Catamarca Province, extending approximately 60 km south its southern distribution in the region. Sixteen other small non-volant mammal species were recorded there, turning this area into one of the most diverse for this understudied group in Argentina.

Conservation units in the core area of the Cerrado domain: an overview on the small nonvolant mammals (Rodentia and Didelphimorphia)

A review of small non-volant mammal species of the APA Gama e Cabeça de Veado was carried out, including new surveys in the ââ?¬Å?Estação Ecológica do Jardim Botânicoââ?¬Â (EEJBB) and ââ?¬Å?Reserva Ecológica do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatí­sticaââ?¬Â (REIBGE). Thirty-one small mammalââ?¬â?¢s species are registered for the APA Gama and Cabeça de Veado, including one exotic species. Didelphis albiventris, Hylaeamys megacephalus, and Oxymycterus delator were collected for the first time in EEJBB. The APA Gama-Cabeça de Veado has a central position in the Cerrado domain sharing six species with the Amazon domain, five with Atlantic Forest, and 13 with Caatinga. The APA Gama-Cabeça de Veado encompasses the home range of at least six non-volant small mammal species endemic of Cerrado domain, and it has an important role in the protection of these endemic species and species that occurs in those four South America morphoclimatic domains.

Non-volant mammals of the Maracaju Mountains, southwestern Brazil: Composition, richness and conservation

We report the results of the non-volant mammal survey at the Maracaju Mountains located in the central region of Mato Grosso do Sul State, southwestern Brazil. The sampling encompasses different vegetation types of the Cerrado domain that occur in the region. The mammal survey was conducted by the use of pitfalls (1804 bucket-nights), live traps (7508 trap-nights), direct observation and indirect evidence (624 hours of observations). Fifty-eight non-volant mammal species of 9 orders and 20 families were recorded, representing 12% of the Brazilian terrestrial mammal species. The non-volant mammal community of Maracaju Mountains is typical of the Cerrado, but some species found occur in other domains, especially from Pantanal, Atlantic and Amazonian Forests. Among the recorded species, 11 are threatened in Brazil or on a global scale. Therefore, the Maracaju Mountains have a high richness of mammals with endangered and rare species that are still present in the extensive natural areas which persist in the region. These areas are very important for conservation of mammals and should be considered relevant areas for the establishment of Conservation Units in Cerrado and in the Mato Grosso do Sul State.

Non-volant mammals from Domingos Martins municipality, state of Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil

The goal of this study was to contribute to the knowledge of the mammals in the state of Espirito Santo, presenting a list to the Domingos Martins municipality. Regarding the mammals inventory, data obtained from field work and through digital search by species deposited in scientific collections and available on the SpeciesLink database were used. We recorded 47 non-volant mammal species, including 12 endemic in the Atlantic Forest and nine listed as threatened. Domingos Martins, despite being undersampled when compared to other mammals inventories in the state of Espirito Santo, represents 57% of the terrestrial mammals listed in the state. This shows the potential of the municipality in relation to mammal conservation, not only in the state, but also for Atlantic Forest biome.

Gut Analysis of Small Non-Volant Mammals of Mt. Makiling, Luzon Island, Philippines

Three non-native species (Rattus exulans, R. tanezumi and Mus musculus) of small non-volant mammals were recorded along various elevational gradients of Mount Makiling. Invertebrate remains and plant matter comprised the bulk of their diets based on the food items identified. The identified plant matter were leaves and seeds while invertebrates were easily identifiable through body parts such as legs, head and antennae. Other contents identified including vertebrate remains such as hair/fur, feathers and bones, plastics, rubber, stones, and intestinal worms were noted. Based on the calculated relative abundance of each food type, there is no significant difference in the diets of the three non-native rodent species. Preliminary results suggest that introduced rodents in Mt. Makiling have broad diets and there are no indications that their main diet includes native wildlife species. Traces of vertebrate remains, however, may indicate potential predation on wildlife species and further studies are needed to clarify this.

Small mammals of the mid-Araguaia River in central Brazil, with the description of a new species of climbing rat

The mid-Araguaia River basin in central Brazil is considered a priority area for biodiversity conservation, and Parque Estadual do Cantão (PEC) is one of the most important protected areas in this ecotone between Cerrado and Amazonia. This area suffers an intensive human pressure with high rates of deforestation, and still remains poorly studied in terms of biodiversity. From June 2007 to November 2008 we sampled small mammals from both banks of the mid-Araguaia River, in the states of Tocantins and Pará. Data are given about morphological traits, geographic distribution and natural history of 22 species of small non-volant mammals (eight marsupials and 14 rodents) surveyed at PEC and its surroundings. We also present mitochondrial phylogenetic analyses that allow species identification within the genera: Oecomys, Oligoryzomys and Rhipidomys, and delineate an undescribed species of Thrichomys. Based on morphologic and molecular data, we describe a new species of Rhipidomys previously assigned to R. nitela, which is apparently endemic to the AraguaiaTocantins basin in the Cerrado. Additionally, our phylogenetic analyses provide support for the role played by the Araguaia River as an important geographic barrier for two sister species of Rhipidomys.

Non-volant tetrapods from Reserva Biológica de Duas Bocas, State of Espírito Santo, Southeastern Brazil

Reserva Biológica de Duas Bocas (2,910 ha) is one of the largest Atlantic forest remnants in the State of Espírito Santo, Southeastern Brazil. We recorded non-volant tetrapods in this area from May 2007 through April 2008, using pitfalls, live traps, camera traps, and diurnal and nocturnal opportunistic searches. In addition, we compiled available museum and literature records from this area. We documented 52 species of amphibians, 24 species of non-avian reptiles, and 39 species of non-volant mammals. Out of these 115 species, 47 are new records for this area and six other species had their geographic ranges expanded with the present study. Furthermore, we present the record of predation of the tree frog Hypsiboas faber by the snake Chironius bicarinatus. Out of the species listed, five species are listed as threatened with extinction in the State of Espírito Santo, and many others have uncertain conservation status. Reserva Biológica de Duas Bocas is an important wildlife refuge, especially considering the expansion of urban areas in its surroundings.

Non-volant small mammals of the Western Ghats of Coorg District, southern India

A study to understand diversity and changes in non-volant small mammal composition in the Western Ghats of Coorg District, Karnataka was conducted from April 2004 to April 2008. A total of 11060 trap nights of sampling in various habitats such as forest fragments, coffee and cardamom plantations, open areas including grasslands, agricultural fields including paddy and ginger cultivations, bamboo and in and around human habitations across the two vegetation zones of the district. Totally, 14 species of non-volant small mammals were trapped as 412 unique individuals contributing to an overall trap success of 3.8%. Rattus wroughtoni was the most commonly caught taxon followed by Suncus murinus and S. niger although S. murinus was trapped in 10 habitats followed by Mus musculus in 9 of 11 habitats. The abundance of small mammals was the highest in bamboo (12.1%) and in forest fragments (7.2%); the plantations supported very low abundances (< 3.1%). Endemic mammals such as Rattus satarae, Vandeleuria nilagirica, Platacanthomys lasiurus, Funambulus tristriatus and Suncus niger were recorded in Coorg although P. lasiurus and V. nilagirica were trapped in only one habitat each. Changes in land use and rapid decline in quality of habitat is pushing the endemics into local extinctions while non-endemic commensals are displacing restricted endemics in disturbed habitats. This study underlines the need for more in-depth rapid assessments in the Western Ghats for the poorly understood small mammals and the initiation of conservation programmes for endemics.

Microestruturas de pêlos de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores: chave para identificação de espécies de agroecossistemas do estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Características microestruturais dos pêlos vêm sendo usadas para identificação de espécies em pesquisas taxonômicas, ecológicas, paleontológicas, arqueológicas e forenses. Este estudo tem como objetivo a descrição da estrutura dos pêlos de algumas espécies de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores comumente encontrados em agroecossistemas do Estado de São Paulo. Os pêlos foram coletados do dorso de espécimes previamente identificados coletados em áreas de agricultura (canavial), pastagens, silvicultura (plantio de eucalipto) e fragmentos de vegetação nativa (floresta semidecídua e cerrado). O microscópio óptico apresentou limitações para a descrição do formato e borda das escamas, os quais foram descritos através do uso de microscópio eletrônico de varredura. Uma chave de identificação dicotômica é apresentada para 11 espécies de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores (sete roedores e quatro marsupiais).

Non-volant mammals, Reserva San Sebastián-La Castellana, Valle de Aburrá, Antioquia, Colombia

From 2000 to 2006 I conducted mammalogical inventory in Reserva San Sebastián-La Castellana, Valle de Aburrá, Antioquia, Colombia. Twenty eight species of non-volant mammals are listed. List includes notable records such as threatened (Leopardus tigrinus and Cabassous centralis), cryptic and rare species (Thomasomys popayanus, Cryptotis medellinia, and Olallamys albicauda).

The original non-volant land mammal fauna of Faure Island, Shark Bay, Western Australia

Remains of four species of non-volant native mammals have been found on Faure Island: Perameles bougainvi1le (Western Barred Bandicoot), Bettongia penicillata (Woylie or Brush-tailed Bettong), Pseudomys fieldi (Shark Bay Mouse) and Rattus tunneyi (Pale Field-rat). Three of these species, Pe. bougainville, B. penicillata and Ps. fieldi, are abundant and their remains are recorded from several or most dune 'blowout' sites and all are recorded from a substantial cave deposit. These three were members of the original (i.e. immediately pre-European) fauna of Faure Island. Rattus tunneyi, in contrast, is known from a single specimen from a dune blowout, but is not recorded from the cave deposit. It appears unlikely to have been a member of the original fauna, but rather the specimen may be a relict from an earlier fauna, or may have been carried to the island from the mainland by a predator. Comparison with other islands in Shark Bay suggests that, at some 5800 ha in area, Faure Island should have carried more than three mammal species. There is no evidence that the island has been significantly smaller at any time since it was formed by rising sea level about 7000 years ago. A lack of habitat diversity or extremes of temperature or drought may have reduced the number of mammal species over the millenia, or it is just possible that the original fauna may have included other small species with restricted habitat requirements whose remains have not been detected. It is, however, very unlikely that any other medium-sized mammal originally occurred on the Island.

Northerly Range Extensions of Mammalian Species in Minnesota

An inventory and monitoring program for species of non-volant small mammals was undertaken in Voyageurs National Park on the Minnesota-Canadian border. Other observations of mammals were made in and around the Park (1967–2004). Here we report species range extensions, most noted since 1982, for four species of rodents present in and/or around the Park and Superior National Forest. They are the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus), rock vole (Microtus chrotorrhinus), Franklin's ground squirrel (Spermophilus franklinii) and eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). We also report the expansions within the state of the badger (Taxidea taxus) and the raccoon (Procyon lotor), previously known to occur further north in Canada. The results are discussed in the context of inventorying strategies, anthropogenic global climate change and the reservoirs for diseases transmissible to humans.

Small-mammal diversity and abundance in a French Guianan rain forest: test of sampling procedures using species rarefaction curves

Neotropical species richness is often estimated using accumulation or rarefaction curves and extrapolations based on various methods, but the efficacy of these methods is rarely tested. We used both a time-limited trapping session and previous knowledge of the mammal fauna from a site in French Guiana to validate these different methods. Three currently used extrapolation models were tested on our data. In a 2.5-mo trapping period we caught 75 individuals representing 18 small non-volant mammal species in three different habitats. We found that for comparable trapping efforts, village edges presented a higher abundance and species richness than primary and secondary forests. Species richness extrapolations using current models demonstrated that the exponential dependence model fits the known diversity of the site better, although this model is usually applied to large geographic areas and to relatively poorly documented taxa. Both Clench equation and linear dependence models underestimate small-mammal species richness in our study. We finally emphasize the interest of sampling in such edges surrounded by either primary or secondary forest, to maximize the probability of trapping rare species.

Body Size Variation of Mammals in a Fragmented, Temperate Rainforest

Body size is perhaps the most important trait of an organism, affecting all of its physiological and ecological processes and, therefore, fundamentally influencing its ability to survive and reproduce in different environments, including those that have been modified by human activities. We tested the hypothesis that anthropogenic transformation of old-growth forest landscapes can result in significant intraspecific changes in body size of resident biotas. We collected data on five species of nonvolant mammals (common deer mouse[Peromyscus maniculatus], northwestern deer mouse[P. keeni], southern red-backed vole[Clethrionomys gapperi], montane shrew[Sorex monticolus], and Trowbridge's shrew[S. trowbridgii]) to test whether body size (mass and length) of these species varied across types of land cover (macrohabitats) and along elevational gradients of the fragmented, temperate rainforest of Olympic National Forest (Washington, U.S.A.). We measured 2168 and 1134 individuals for body mass and body length, respectively. Three species (P. keeni, S. monticolus, and S. trowbridgii) exhibited significantly different body size among macrohabitats: individuals from fragments were smaller than those in old-growth corridors and those in more extensive stands of old-growth forest. Body size of P. keeni was significantly correlated with elevation along corridors, peaking near the medial reaches of the corridors. The effects of anthropogenic transformations of this landscape of old-growth, temperate rainforest, although not universal among the five species, were significant and rapid-developing in just a few decades following tree harvests. Thus, anthropogenic fragmentation may influence not only the diversity, species composition, and densities of local biotas, but also one of the most fundamental and defining characteristics of native species-their body size.

Incorporating connectivity into conservation planning: A multi-criteria case study from central Mexico

The interdigitation of the Nearartic and Neotropical biogeographic zones in the Transvolcanic Belt (TVB) of central Mexico provides the region with high faunal richness and endemicity. Biodiversity conservation in the TVB must accommodate the region’s human population of more than 40 million. The current study presents conservation plans for the TVB intended to protect 99 non-volant mammal species while minimizing the impact on the human population. A rarity-complementarity algorithm was used to select a conservation area network (CAN) from sites with untransformed vegetation to represent 10% of each species’ habitat. In addition, a new method was developed for augmenting the connectivity of CANs using graph theory. External sites were assigned quality scores based on the frequency with which they were selected at different targets of representation for species. Graph algorithms identified the highest-quality sites needed to link all conservation areas in an economical manner. These connectivity areas can facilitate migration or egress of biota in the event of local environmental stress. The network initialized with existing protected areas occupied 9.13% of the TVB, whereas the network built from scratch occupied 6.02%. In both cases, an additional area of only about 1.5% of the region was required to link all conservation areas in the network. Finally, a multiple criterion synchronization technique was used to select those connected networks which minimized both total area and human population impact.

Pattern of elevational distribution and richness of non volant mammals in Itatiaia National Park and its surroundings, in Southeastern Brazil

Itatiaia National Park (PNI) and its surroundings present a unique fauna due to different forest formations with well-defined climatic and vegetation bands. The Itatiaia massif has four vegetation types that follow an altitudinal gradient: lower montane forest, montane forest, upper montane forest, and Campos de Altitude. Hence, this region is ideal for studying geographical variation in biological diversity. The main objectives of this study were to report on nonvolant mammal species known to occur in Itatiaia National Park and its surroundings and to determine if their distributional pattern is related to elevation. A review of the literature and a complete survey of specimens deposited in museums, as well as small-mammal trapping were carried out in order to obtain a complete record of the species from the region. Precise locality data were obtained for all specimens recorded, allowing the inclusion of each collected or observed individual in an altitude and vegetational class. We made a direct ordination gradient of marsupial, primate, and rodent species abundance with the altitude. Sixty-nine mammal species were collected or reported for the Itatiaia massif, belonging to seven orders and 20 families. Of these, 33 species (47.8%) are included in the official list of threatened or believed-to-be threatened species in Rio de Janeiro State. The orders Rodentia, Carnivora, and Didelphimorphia had the highest species richness, with 25, 14, and 13 species respectively. When species were grouped according to the vegetation, 16 species occured in the lower montane, 56 in the montane forest, five in the upper montane, and 21 in the high-altitude fields (Campos de Altitude). The communities of marsupials, primates, and rodents have an ordination pattern related to the altitude. Species richness was higher between 500 m and 1,500 m above sea level in montane forest, which is in agreement with recent studies showing that species richness can reach its maximum at mid-elevations.

A New Species of Thomasomys (Rodentia: Muridae) from Eastern Ecuador, with Remarks on Mammalian Diversity and Biogeography in the Cordillera Oriental

A new species of the murid rodent genus Thomasomys is described from the Cordillera Oriental of eastern Ecuador, a major range of the northern Andes that remains almost completely unexplored mammalogically. In order to provide a baseline for future faunal inventory work in these mountains, this report summarizes specimen data from the vicinity of Papallacta (0°22′S, 78°08′W), a small village located near tree line on the eastern (Amazonian) slope. In addition to the new Thomasomys, the local fauna includes 32 other species of nonvolant mammals, of which several (Akodon latebricola, Thomasomys cinnameus, and T. erro) have not been reported since their original descriptions in the 1920s. Taxonomic research based on this material indicates that at least six taxa currently treated as synonyms or subspecies should be recognized as valid species, including Thomasomys popayanus (possibly including T. nicefori) and T. praetor (both formerly synonymized with T. aureus), T. cinnameus and T. hudsoni (both formerly synonymized with T. gracilis), T. erro (formerly synonymized with T. cinereiventer), and Coendou quichua (formerly synonymized with C. bicolor). Although the Papallacta fauna includes several clades (“genera”) that extend to south- and north-temperate latitudes, over half of the local species are endemic to the northern Andes (north of the Huancabamba Deflection in northern Peru); among these northern-Andean endemics, three species known only from northeastern Ecuador provide evidence for a distinct center of endemism in the Cordillera Oriental. Quantitative estimates of species-level faunal complementarity indicate substantial horizontal turnover (between ecologically similar highland sites) on the scale of a few hundred kilometers, and almost complete vertical turnover (between adjacent highland and lowland sites) on the scale of about 2000 m. Both phenomena pose significant challenges for timely inventory work across vast Andean landscapes that remain sparsely sampled by mammalogists. In particular, the middle elevations of the eastern slope of the northern Andes, a densely forested region approximately 2 km high and over 1500 km long, remain a mammalogical terra incognita.

Elevational gradients of small mammal diversity on the northern slopes of Mt. Qilian, China

ABSTRACTAim Small mammal species richness and relative abundance vary along elevational gradients, but there are different patterns that exist. This study reports the patterns of distribution and abundance of small mammals along the broader elevational gradient of Mt. Qilian range.Location The study was conducted in the Mt. Qilian range, north‐western China, from June to August 2001.Methods Removal trapping was conducted using a standardized technique at 7 sites ranging between 1600 and 3900 m elevation within three transects. Correlation, regression and graphical analyses were used to evaluate the diversity patterns along this elevational gradient.Results In total, 586 individuals representing 18 nonvolant small mammal species were collected during 20 160 trap nights. Species composition was different among the three transects with 6 (33%) of the species found only within one transect. Elevational distribution and relative abundance of small rodents showed substantial spatial variation, with only 2 species showing nonsignificant capture frequencies across elevations. Despite these variations, some general patterns of elevational distribution emerged: humped‐shape relationships between species diversity and elevation were noted in all three transects with diversity peaks at middle elevations. In addition, relative abundance was negatively correlated with elevation.Conclusions Results indicate that maximum richness and diversity of nonvolant small mammals occurred at mid‐elevations where several types of plants reached their maximum diversity and primary productivity, and where rainfall and humidity reached a maximum. It is demonstrated that the mid‐elevation bulge is a general feature of at least a large portion of the biota on the Mt. Qilian range.

Small mammal inventory in the Shipstern Nature Reserve (Corozal District, Belize, Central America), a preliminary assessment

This small mammal inventory was conducted between May and September 2000 in the Shipstern Nature Reserve located at the northeastern limit of Belize in the Corozal District, Central America. In 11840 trap nights, 7 species of non-volant small mammals were captured, including 5 species of myomorph rodents and 2 species of didelphid marsupials. One species, Ototylomys phyllotis, accounted for 90.8% of the total captures, and may play a major role in the community structure of mammals in the reserve. The presence of Peromyscus yucatanicus in Shipstern Nature Reserve constitutes a first mention for Belize, and suggests that its range is extending more southerly to the limit agreed at present. Observations made on Sigmodon hispidus lead to formulate the hypothesis of a morphologically smaller population in the south of Quintana Roo, Mexico, and northern Belize, and further underlines the need for a complete revision of the genus in the Yucatan Peninsula. The sympatric diversity concretely obtained in Shipstern Nature Reserve is certainly underestimated, but nevertheless gives substance to the impression of a rodent community that is clearly affiliated to the partly endemic fauna of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.